The traditional Owu-Ikosi Kingdom within the Ikosi-Ejirin Native Council Improvement Space (LCDA) of Epe Division is going through a deepening disaster as ‘ajagungbale’ (landgrabbers) forcibly invade neighborhood land, intimidate residents, and cripple native commerce.
At a press convention held on the palace of the Olowu of Owu-Ikosi, Oba Nelson Aderemi Obayomi Ogunlari, flanked by his council of chiefs, the monarch delivered a scathing condemnation of the landgrabbers and dissociated the royal stool from any particular person or group concerned within the illicit follow.
The king issued a determined plea to the Lagos State authorities and safety businesses for rapid intervention, warning that the scenario is quickly descending into anarchy. He confirmed that the landgrabbers had made incursions into a number of villages throughout Epe Division and, although initially pushed away from Owu-Ikosi, their return has been relentless and more and more aggressive.
“The state authorities ought to act shortly earlier than it turns into a problem like that of herdsmen,” the monarch cautioned, drawing a parallel to safety challenges in different elements of the nation.
He implored Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to swiftly come to the help of the neighborhood and urged the State Home of Meeting to enact a regulation to curb land grabbing.
The standard rulers and chiefs made a joint, pressing name for the deployment of state safety forces.
“We’re calling on Governor Sanwo-Olu to shortly deal with this to stop unrest, and particularly on the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, the Division of State Companies (DSS), and the Space Commander of Space N to come back and save our lives and souls earlier than it’s too late.
“We urge the Lagos State Home of Meeting to make a regulation to assist the work of the Lagos State Process Drive on Land Grabbers (LSTF), as this can assist curb land grabbing within the state.”
The monarch famous that the escalating violence poses a direct menace to the state authorities’s funding within the space, significantly the relocation of sawmillers from Okobaba to Imofa.
Oluwo/Jagun Oba of Owu-Ikosi, Chief Olumide Osilaja, painted a grim image of each day life, stating that the scenario has turn into so pervasive that no a part of the neighborhood is free from the landgrabbers.
“They’re now in our farms with the hoodlums they’re utilizing to harass our folks. Farmers can not go to their farms, and our ladies can not conduct their each day enterprise,” Osilaja mentioned.
He added that folks visiting the sawmills to buy planks are being stopped and extorted for giant sums of cash.
“The thugs are reportedly armed with cutlasses and weapons, and are seen taking dangerous medicine, fuelling panic in the neighborhood.”
Baale of Asaasa/Oke-Odo in Owu-Ikosi, Prince Adeoluwa Adekoya, mentioned gunshots at the moment are being heard in the neighborhood, creating widespread worry.
“Earlier than it escalates to a degree the place the federal government can not deal with it, that’s the reason we’re making this plea to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and safety businesses to come back and rescue us,” he mentioned.
