By Akinwale Kasali
The failure of the Lagos State to step into alleged land-grabbing issues in Ojomu Community in Ajiran Land, Eti Osa Local Government Area in the State, has been condemned by Civil Society Stakeholders under the platform of Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, CHSR.
The Group said the menace of land grubbing and the inherent danger it portends needs to be addressed for communal peace and sustainable development in Nigeria’s epicentre of commerce and economic activities.
CHSR in a Statement through its President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse said that following the Group’s interaction with the Media on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, regarding the unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu Community (AJIRAN LAND) it is being inundated with reports relating to recalcitrance of the main actors in the community’s crisis, including the unfortunate murder of a youth leader, Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent to AJIRAN.
Omotehinse said that according to reports it gathered, the late Salami who was said to have been gruesomely murdered in broad daylight on April 18 had maintained firm opposition to the activities of land grabbers.
He said following its Press Briefing last week, the Human Rights Group has received scores of telephone calls and representations from victims of land grabbing activities in Lagos State.
“Most complaints from Lagos State speak to the high level of impunity that come with land grabbing. Most victims are disenchanted as well as frustrated by the seemingly lack of commitment of the Lagos State Government to addressing the challenge headlong in spite of the establishment and operation of a Task Force established under the Law of Lagos State.
“Just like the various petitions by concerned community stakeholders and victims of unlawful activities of land grabbers in AJIRAN LAND provided insights into the magnitude of the challenge, CHSR also worried that land grabbers are becoming more entrenched than hitherto imagined in spite of a Task Force established to nip the menace in the bud”.
The Group said it wishes to demand priority attention from the Lagos State Government with the view to making all relevant agencies, particularly the Task Force on Land Grabbing, more responsive to their mandate.
“CHSR is, however, more concerned that most of the land being forcibly confiscated by these land grabbers are legally and validly documented by the original owners most of whom are in possession of genuine Deed of Assignment and with full authorisation of the relevant families from whom the lands were purchased.
“To this end, we are concerned about the seeming complicity of certain actors in the Land Registry of Lagos State without whose connivance falsification or forgery of land documents by land grabbers and their collaborators could not be successfully carried out.
“We are, however, encouraged by the bold step taken by HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OBA RILWANU AKIOLU against land grabbing activities in AJIRAN Land and other communities in the Lekki axis of Eti-Osa Local Government Area. (Please refer to a letter titled REQUEST FOR SPECIAL URGENT INTERVENTION (REF: OOL/017/VOL.III/374 to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba on December 12, 2022.
“We are, therefore, calling on other traditional rulers under the platform of Lagos State Council of Traditional Rulers to rise in unison to denounce the activities of land grabbers in Lagos State.
“We wish to see concrete steps being taken as a matter of urgency by the Lagos State Government towards addressing the menace of land grabbers in the State”.
It added that certain events have unfolded in Ojomu community since its last press briefing, which needed to be highlighted to further draw the attention of Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Police to the continued unwholesome activities of leading actors in land grabbing cases in Ojomu community which is capable of disturbing public peace.
It was gathered that on Tuesday 18th April, 2023, Sheriff Salami was killed in cruel circumstances suspected to be a fallout of the deceased’s opposition to activities of land grabbers in the community.
Following this development, the Group said it is demanding and calling that the Lagos State government and the Police to probe the death of Sheriff Ishola Salami (a.k.a AGBOWORIN) who was a son of late BASHORUN OF AJIRAN Land, Chief Ishola Salami.
It said there must be justice for the deceased Salami who left behind 3 daughters and an aged mother.
Meanwhile, following its last press briefing, a protest was allegedly led by one Wasiu Yekini Akinsemoyin a non-indigene of Ojomu community, an ally of Ahmed Tajudeen who has been fingered in the land grabbing cases by victims; some of whom have narrated their ordeals to CHSR.
The protest was said to have been staged behind the Palace of Oba of AJIRAN LAND, His Royal Highness, OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II was without doubt aimed at further harassment of stakeholders and victims who have lodged complaints to CHSR regarding infractions on their rights and corresponding threats to their safety.
The Group said it has videos of harassment and intimidation of community stakeholders and members of the traditional institution orchestrated by these individuals.
It urged the LASG to Wade into the issue, as it is deeply concerned about the prevailing ugly situation in Ojomu community which evidently has undermined the legitimate traditional institution in AJIRAN
Land leading to flagrant dispossession and confiscation of lands legitimately purchased and validly documented by innocent individuals who have been wantonly victimised with undue sense of impunity by Ahmed Tajudeen led land grabbing group in Ojomu community.
“More importantly, we are disbursed by the apparent silence of the Lagos State Government over the rather reprehensible situation in AJIRAN Land.
“We wish to therefore see Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu take decisive step, without further delay, to reaffirm the authorities of Oba of AJIYAN Land as the custodians of culture and heritage of the community as vested under the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law of 1981.
“We are convinced intervention of Lagos State Government in this regard is an immediate important step in tackling the menace of land grabbers in Ojomu communities”.
CHSR said it demanding that the Lagos State Government should protect legitimate authority of traditional institution in AJIRAN LAND against further reckless insubordination as well intimidation and harassment by Ahmed Tajudeen led land grabbers.
Also, the Lagos State Government and Nigeria Police should put an end forthwith to the harassment of authentic allottees and rightful land owners and confiscation of lands in Ojomu community and by extension AJIRAN LAND, and should investigate allegations of forgery of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT and other land related documents duly authorized and signed with the authority of Ojomu family as well as Lagos State Land Registry.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu should give immediate directives to relevant agencies; particularly the Task Force on Land Grabbing with the view to putting an end to illegal activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community and other affected communities in Lagos State.
“Lagos State Police Command should investigate the incident that led to the murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami (a.k.a AGBOWORIN) on April 18, 2023 in the interest of justice and peace, and the Lagos State Council of Traditional Rulers should speak out in unison against the activities of land grabbers in their domains and by extension across communities in Lagos State”, the Group demanded.
