01/06/2026
Standing Firm: Why Sagamu's History of Resistance Proves We Are No Cowards
By - Mayowa
The narrative that the people of Sagamu are passive or cowardly is not only false—it is a complete denial of historical reality. The records are clear: whenever our rights, our dignity, or our community have been threatened, Sagamites have stood up to fight. From ancient communal defences to modern justice movements, the courage of our people is written in blood, sweat, and resilience.
However, as a people who know the high cost of conflict, we must bring collective wisdom to the upcoming election cycle. True bravery is knowing when to fight and how to protect what we have built. We must never allow political opportunists to exploit our courage, pushing us into state-sponsored chaos or destructive protests that leave our own hometown in ruins.
A Documented History of Bravery and Unrest
To understand the raw courage of Sagamu, one only needs to look at the historical records of our resistance and the times our community stood its ground:
1. The 1999 Hausa-Yoruba Communal Clash
In July 1999, tension boiled over in Sagamu following an infraction during the traditional Oro festival, a sacred cultural rite. The refusal to respect local traditional institutions led to a massive and fierce confrontation centred around the Sabo quarter. Sagamites fiercely defended their cultural heritage and territorial sovereignty in a clash that eventually reverberated across the country. Reports indicated staggering casualties, with claims of up to 100 Sagamu indigenes and no fewer than 50 Hausa residents killed. The Hausa settlement (Sabo) was largely razed, and reprisal attacks later spread to Kano and other northern cities, where hundreds of Yoruba were killed in revenge.
Reference: ecoi.net — Nigeria: Clashes in Sagamu 1999
1. The Burning of the Old Akarigbo Palace: Justice for Kehinde Ogunjimi
The old Akarigbo Palace was burnt for a specific and just reason: the killing of a young man by a vigilante group.
On a Sunday night, Kehinde Ogunjimi, a young man of the community, was killed by people suspected to be members of a vigilante group. The following day, outraged Sagamu youths went on a rampage to protest his unjust death. In the ensuing violence, the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Michael Sonariwo, was set ablaze, along with several vehicles.
This was not a mindless act of destruction. It was the explosion of a community that had lost a son to extrajudicial violence and felt that justice would not come through normal channels. The palace—as the seat of traditional authority—became the target because the youth believed the establishment had failed to protect one of its own.
Reference: AllAfrica / Vanguard — Nigeria: Violence Rocks Sagamu, One Dead, Oba's Palace Torched
1. The Early Spark of : Justice for "Kaka"
Long before the movement gained global traction in late 2020, Sagamu was already on the frontline fighting police brutality. In February 2020, the tragic and unjust death of Kazeem "Kaka" Tiyamiyu—the beloved vice-captain of Remo Stars Football Club—at the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) sparked immediate, fiery resistance.
On February 22, 2020, Kaka was allegedly pushed from a moving vehicle by SARS operatives along the Sagamu Road. Sagamu youths poured into the streets, barricaded roads, and stormed the palace of the Akarigbo. Police shot into the crowd, killing two youths. The protest turned bloody, and the outrage forced the Inspector-General of Police to disband the notorious Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS) satellite offices.
Reference: Naija News — IGP Takes Action After Killing of Remo Stars Defender
1. The 2023 Naira Scarcity Riots: A Lesson in Caution
Perhaps the most crucial reminder for us today is the unrest of February 2023. Triggered by the severe hardship of the Central Bank's naira redesign policy, angry crowds barricaded the Sagamu-Benin Expressway and targeted local financial infrastructure. Branches of Union Bank, First Bank, and Keystone Bank were systematically vandalised and set ablaze. An INEC office and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office were also destroyed.
Crucially, this chaos erupted just days before the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. Local leaders and royal authorities quickly pointed out that the sheer level of destruction felt heavily manipulated. The Ogun State Government specifically alleged that disgruntled members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were spotted leading the destruction. It was an instance where political actors hijacked genuine public frustration to destabilise the region right before voters headed to the polls. Properties worth billions were destroyed, and over 30 suspects were arrested.
References:
· The Sun Nigeria — Naira Scarcity: Protesters Hit Sagamu, Raze Banks, INEC, IBEDC Offices
· Independent Newspaper — Dapo Abiodun Blames PDP as Rioters Attack Banks in Sagamu
The Warning for the Upcoming Election
The lesson of 2023 is exactly what we must carry forward now. With elections approaching, the political temperature is bound to rise. External forces and internal agents will try to trigger our emotions, using our natural inclination to fight for our rights as a weapon to destroy our own backyard.
When banks are burned, when markets are destroyed, and when our infrastructure is levelled, the politicians return to their secure mansions while everyday Sagamites are left to suffer the economic fallout. The destruction of our community does not hurt the political class; it only sets Sagamu backwards.
We have nothing to prove to anyone. Our history has already cleared our name: Sagamites are not cowards. We have fought, we are fighting, and we will always stand up when it is time.
· We fought the Yoruba-Hausa war of 1999.
· We burnt the old Akarigbo Palace when Kehinde Ogunjimi was killed by a vigilante group.
· We started with Kaka's blood in 2020.
· We protested the naira scarcity in 2023—but saw how political hands twisted that pain into destruction.
But as this election approaches, our greatest act of bravery will be our vigilance. We must protect our youth, secure our streets, and refuse to be used as tools for politically motivated destruction. Let us play the game with wisdom and keep our community safe.
Fight for your right at the ballot box. Not with petrol and matches on our own streets.
The records are there. Let us learn from them.
Sagamu are not cowards. Never have been. Never will be.
