By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
A potentially violent crisis was narrowly averted in Eredo Community, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Tuesday evening, when two rival groups of alleged land-grabbers clashed in a free-for-all fight.
To this end, the community’s traditional head, Chief Rasak Amujara and inhabitants of Eredo, have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun and security agencies to intervene and save them from the activities of the alleged land-grabbers, identified as Samson Sodeinde (aka Eleda) and Ajibola Johnson of Young Agro Limited.
According to Chief Amujara, these individuals have been terrorizing the community, using thugs and fake documents to lay claim to lands belonging to innocent citizens.
The alleged land-grabbers are accused of conniving with some officials in the Bureau of Lands & Survey to lay claims to people’s lands and sell off the lands to private individuals, including Chinese nationals, while displacing farmers and landowners.
The community leader alleged that the duo uses the name of the Ogun State government to deceive landowners, claiming that their lands have been taken over for overriding public interest.
He expressed concern that the activities of these alleged land-grabbers do not only paint the community in bad light but also put inhabitants in panic mode whenever they begin their acts.
Chief Amujara urged Governor Abiodun to take immediate action to stop the alleged land-grabbers and protect the rights of the community’s inhabitants.
A female victim, who prefers anonymity for fear of attack, said she bought acres of land and was displaced, but now she has reported the case to the Police.
She expressed deep concern, that if no drastic action is taken, the activities of these land grabbers might lead to communal clashes, saying “we don’t want crisis like the one in Benue here”.
“The community is calling for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation of the situation”, Alhaji Mukaila Amao, a resident of Eredo said.
