Eba Island belongs to Ilaje people of Ondo state, Community insists
The leadership and people of Ilaje Mahin in Ondo State have firmly reiterated their ownership of the controversial Eba Island, declaring that the island is an integral part of Ilaje land and vowing not to cede what they described as their ancestral territory and God-given resources to any other group or state.
In a statement signed by Dr. (Prince) Ola Judah Ajidibo Akinyomi on behalf of the Palace of the Amapetu of Mahinland, the community clarified the territorial status of Eba Island amid recent reports of oil discovery and emerging claims regarding state ownership.
According to the statement, Eba Island is historically and administratively part of Ilaje land in Ondo State, stressing that the island has always been inhabited by the Ilaje people and governed through their established traditional institutions.
“The Island is inhabited by Ilaje people and has long been administered through the recognized traditional and community structures of Atijere,” the statement read.
The community emphasized that the Ilaje people, under the traditional authority of the Amapetu of Mahin, the paramount ruler of Mahinland, and the Molokun of Atijere, remain the legitimate indigenous custodians of Eba Island. These traditional institutions, it noted, constitute the recognized governance framework through which access, engagement, and community consent must be secured for any exploration or production activities.
Reaffirming their position, the people of Ilaje Mahin declared: “We will not cede our land and God-given resources to anyone else. Eba Island is part of our ancestral heritage, and its identity as Ilaje territory is not in dispute.”
While maintaining their stance on ownership, the community expressed openness to development and investment. They welcomed responsible investors and commended the Federal Government’s efforts to expand national oil production in line with broader economic development goals.
“We welcome responsible investment and commend the Federal Government’s efforts to expand national oil production in line with economic development objectives. We also express our readiness to cooperate with duly authorized exploration companies operating within Eba Island,” the statement added.
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However, the Ilaje leadership warned that any misrepresentation of the island’s territorial identity could be inaccurate and potentially destabilizing. They stressed that host community participation is both a legal and moral requirement under the Petroleum Industry Act, noting that engagement without due recognition of established traditional and community leadership structures could lead to avoidable tension and disorder.
The community further called on relevant federal authorities to ensure that all boundary matters are addressed through constitutionally recognized mechanisms, urging strict adherence to due process in resolving any disputes.
