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Crisis is brewing at Ikoya community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, as residents yesterday protested alleged arrest of some community members over land acquisition by Okitipupa Oil Palm Company (OOPC).

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters during a peaceful protest at Ikoya, accused OOPC management and the police of “unjust arrest and detention” of some members of the community.

NAN also reports that the protesters carried placards with inscriptions: “OOPPlc, Obey Supreme Court Judgment and Quit Our Land’; “Enough of Police Harassment and Intimidation”; “Free Three Ikales and Release Your Landlord Unconditionally”, among others.Some of the protesters while speaking with reporters, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of members of the community arrested and detained by the police.

They alleged that the police arrested Mrs Bose Loyinmi-Ogunlowo, Mrs Rachael Akinirun and Mr Orimisan Adelokiki, the national leader of Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council, over land dispute with OOPC.They also demanded the eviction of OOPC from their land, alleging that the company had no valid agreement with the community before acquiring the oil palm plantation.They presented a Supreme Court judgment of 1988 as evidence, which they claimed ruled that OOPC should negotiate a valid agreement with the community or vacate the land.

They, however, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene as a matter of urgency before it resulted in crisis.