By Abolaji Adebayo
The residents of Fagbile Phase 3 in Isheri-Osun community area of Lagos State have cried to the Lagos State Government to rescue them from the activities of the so called land grabbers popularly known as Omo Onile terrorising them daily.
They complained that the land grabbers have been attacking them since four years ago to claim their land from them.
Speaking on behalf of the community in a statement, the Baale of the community, High Chief Hussein Opebiyi, said the residents have been living in perpetual fear due to incessant attack on the community by the land grabbers.
He appealed to the government for quick intervention to save lives and properties.
“We are living in total fear, we don’t have rest due to their continuous attacks on the landlords and tenants in our fathers’ land. We need the quick solution from the Lagos State Government,” he lamented.
According to him, the residents have not been living with rest of mind due to the incessant attacks laid on them by the land grabbers since four years ago.
The Baale together with the family head, Chief Sadudeen Akanbi Opebiyi, the front liners, Alhaji Ismail Idowu Opebiyi, Chief Musiliu Ayinde Fagbile and others revealed that the occurrences started when the plan to get the correct land survey on boundary between their family at Isheri-Osun and the Koje Amuwo from Amuwo Odofin failed.
The traditional head explained: “The family of Fagbile won this land portion from the Osoboja family from Ijegun at the Supreme Court with legal documents. This case started in 1953. We have boundaries with Ijegun, Ijedodo, Amuwo Odofin and Festac Town.
“In 2018, our late family lawyer, Barrister Teslim Almoroof called the Fagbiles and the Koje Amuwos to arrange a certain payment and get a neutral surveyor for the boundary between us. We did so but the incident took a negative turn when the surveyor of Koje Amuwo failed to show up at the day chosen.
“The neutral surveyor, Oloogunebi has done the survey on papers and was waiting to do the physical survey outline before the two families and their surveyors on the day. The intending plan failed when the surveyor of the other family refused to show up. That began the invasion of our land by the awful activities of the land grabbers with link to Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye.”
He alleged that the attack was always led by one Mr. Kayode Johnson a.k.a Ikoko and his gang members including Justo and another one called ‘The Way’.
The Baale said their activities were against the law of the state and infringe on human rights.
He added: “These thugs dealt wrongly with our tenants, they would not allow those who bought pieces of land from us to work on their lands. They would also demolish the ones they have built already if the owners are not willing or ready to undergo ratification with the Owoeyes. They also snatch their bags, phones and use cutlasses on the inhabitants who question them on whatever they do.
“There’s a time we were trying to settle the matter at Zone 2 Police Command but it failed again when the surveyor, Oloogunebi showed up on behalf of the Koje Amuwos.”
“We want the Lagos State Government to assist us. The case has been with the House of Assembly in the State, the Land Grabbing Settlement Office in Alausa, the Lagos State Police Command at Ikeja and others for reasonable solution. We want peace for our people from the hands of the boys of Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye a.k.a Alaye before they begin shedding blood of the innocent souls on the land,” he urged the government.
All efforts to reach the alleged land grabbers were not fruitful as none of them could be found round.
