Tensions Resurface in OAU as Land Grabbers Threaten Fresh Assault Amid Longstanding Feud
Tensions have resurfaced at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, due to land grabbers from the local community encroaching on university property.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Fresh tensions have erupted at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as land grabbers from the local community threaten new incursions on the university’s property. This ongoing dispute, which saw former Vice Chancellor Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede narrowly escape an assassination attempt in 2021, continues to unsettle the university community.
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Recently, alleged land grabbers cleared a portion of OAU’s land to erect a perimeter fence, reigniting the presence of armed hoodlums in the area. The conflict dates back to the 1960s when OAU was granted 162 hectares of land by the then Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi. Despite this, local community members have been selling portions of this land, leading to repeated clashes with the university.
The feud intensified in April 2019 when land grabbers allegedly poisoned the university’s dam. This dispute initially emerged during the reign of the former Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who allocated land near the university that has since been contested by both the university and the local community.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has dismissed allegations of water poisoning as baseless and absurd, emphasizing the long-standing harmonious relationship between the university and the Ife community. However, tensions flared in December 2020 when the Ife Development Board warned OAU against destroying property on the disputed land.
In December 2021, an assassination attempt on Prof. Ogunbodede and other university staff while inspecting abandoned hostels underscored the severity of the conflict. The attackers, armed with deadly weapons, highlighted the dangerous environment around the disputed land.
Recently, the situation escalated with fresh encroachments by land grabbers, led by local traditional rulers. Despite the university’s protests, these grabbers continue to demarcate and sell land within OAU’s claimed territory.
OAU’s management, represented by Public Relations Officer Abiodun Olarewaju, has condemned the land grabbers’ activities and reiterated the university’s rightful claim to the land, granted by the federal government. Olarewaju emphasized the potential consequences for those illegally purchasing the disputed land.
Efforts to mediate the conflict have been complicated by a lack of cooperation from both sides. The Ologudu, a traditional leader involved in the land grabs, has insisted that only the Ooni of Ife can halt their activities, indicating a complex interplay of local authority and university governance.
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The ongoing land dispute between Obafemi Awolowo University and the Ile-Ife community remains unresolved, with both sides steadfast in their claims. As land grabbers continue their encroachments, the potential for further violence and disruption looms large. The federal government’s intervention may be necessary to bring about a lasting resolution and ensure the safety and stability of the university and its community.
