NAN Employees Raise Concerns Over Property Invasion in Ibadan

Staff at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have officially contacted the Oyo State Real Property Protection Agency regarding an alleged unlawful invasion of their properties situated in Ibadan.

The petition, filed by their lawyer, Ademola Sodamade, on December 11, 2025, claims violations related to peace, threats to safety, and intentional damage caused by land speculators. It specifically identifies Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Mrs. Oluwamayowa Ayinde, and Mr. Adewale Owoade as the proprietors of the affected land.

According to the employees of NAN, a faction of land speculators, reportedly led by an individual known as Abija, unlawfully entered their land, destroying boundary markers and removing warning signs.

The petition further discloses that the employees had acquired 35 acres of land in Butubutu Village within the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State during the period between 2013 and 2014. "Subsequent to completing the purchase, my clients subdivided the land and sold portions to several individuals, most of whom are staff members from the Ibadan branch of NAN," the document explained.

Moreover, it claimed: "Unexpectedly, several months ago, Mr. Kazim, known colloquially as Abija, who is the Mogaji of Ile Aje in Ode-Aje, Ibadan, forcefully intruded upon the land.

"He illicitly took down and carted away some of the signposts and destroyed certain pillars on the property, intending to sell it to various parties. He issued threats against anyone who would attempt to impede his actions regarding the proposed sale."

In their petition, the NAN workforce requested the agency to take immediate action to stop the unlawful activities occurring on their land. They also enclosed copies of the petition, along with purchase agreements, land surveys, photographs, and additional relevant documents, which were submitted to the Olubadan Committee on Land Grabbing, the Office of the Deputy Governor, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor.

Addressing the situation, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Chairman of the NAN Housing Scheme for the Ibadan Zonal Office, remarked that the initiative emerged from a collaborative effort among staff to manage property ownership through monthly contributions since 2013.

Balogun expressed, "It is extremely disheartening and alarming that a group of criminals, masquerading as state government representatives, can forcefully invade the land, obliterate all agricultural produce, dismantle all the markers and signs there, and threaten lethal violence against anyone on the premises."

Boluwatife Enome