Farmers in Ondo State have won a major legal battle against eviction after the state’s High Court ruled in their favour, granting an interlocutory injunction preventing their forced removal from the Oluwa Forest Reserve.
The farmers had filed a lawsuit challenging an eviction order that was previously issued by a Customary Court, arguing that they had legally occupied and cultivated the land for several years. The court's ruling nullifies the eviction order and restrains both the Ondo State Government and SAO Agro-Allied Services Ltd from interfering with their farming activities.
The case has sparked widespread debate, with the affected farmers celebrating the ruling as a victory for their livelihoods. On the other hand, government representatives insist that the land is part of a conservation area meant to be protected from encroachment.
Legal experts believe the state government may appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a prolonged legal battle. Meanwhile, advocacy groups have called for a balanced approach that ensures both environmental conservation and the economic survival of local farmers.