Landlords and residents of Alpha Grace Estate, Idishin/NIHORT Road Jericho, Ibadan have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde and relevant ministries and agencies of the Oyo state government to urgently come to their rescue over activities of land grabbers within the estate.
They also explained that they have petitioned the commissioner of police and other security agencies for speedy interventions, while disclosing that the land grabbers have been intruding into the estate with guns wielding security operatives to harrass, intimidate and pose threat to lives of residents within the estate.
The Vice Chairman of the Association, Mr Oluwafisan Bankale, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, Dr Kemi Opatunde, disclosed that upon investigation, the suspected land grabbers have been identified and their information duly communicated to concerned and relevant authorities.
The Landlords implored the state government to invoke its anti land grabbing laws against their activities to save residents of the estate from the repeated threats and trauma from the suspected land grabbers.
He equally noted that the land grabbers have not only forcefully intruded into the estate, they have begun depositing building materials on some vacant plots of lands within the estate, which are legally owned by residents within the estate without recourse to dialogue with the EXCO or present any proprietory document as evidence of their claims.
“On the 27th of September, 2024, the peace and tranquility of our estate was shattered by the violent and forceful arrival and entry of certain persons who are suspected land grabbers, names withheld). They came with a contingent of armed security operatives asserting that they have ownership rights over certain plots of land within the estate, belonging to estate residents.
“The armed security operatives accompanying them threatened to “severely deal” with anyone who attemted to INTERVENE OR DISTURB them from their objectives. It was a highly traumatic experience as our individual, collective and territorial rights were brutally violated by these invaders.
“These suspected individuals have repeatedly visited the estate, always accompanied by armed policemen and have infact, deposited building materials on vacant plots of land within the estate. Suffice it to say that these plots of land are validly owned and held by residents of the estate and have been so owned for years without any adverse claim from any quarter until now.
“It would interest you that up till this moment, none of these people have indicated any intention to meet and dialogue with the Excos over their alleged ownership of these claimed lands and neither has any proprietory document evidencing their claim of ownership over the land been tendered to anyone in the estate.
“Rather, what they consistently tender are guns and threat of violence. It has therefore, become very clear that these invaders are indeed land grabbers who as we well know, employ subterfuge in order to achieve their nefarious plans.
“Consequent to the above, as our first line of action, we have authored and dispatched a comprehensive petition to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police ( which has been acknowledged) detailing with clear evidence the activities of these invaders and applying for his urgent intervention and investigation of the activities of these people so as to terminate their illegality.
“Also, in view of the threat uttered by the invaders and their private militia to “severely deal” with us, we have equally applied to the Commissioner for police protection to safeguard lives and property of residents of the estate.
“Additionally, we have petitioned the Oyo State Anti Land Grabbers Unit and the Executive Governor of Oyo State. These actions are definitely being taken as the precursor to our institution of a legal challenge against this illegality.” Mr Bankale stated.
Some of the residents of the estate who spoke to newsmen recounted their ordeal of harassment, intimidation and even instances of being beaten up by the suspected land grabbers, as they vow to also institute necessary legal action to forestall the brazen attempt of these land grabbers.