The acting Governor of Oyo State, Mr Bayo Lawal, has said land grabbing will no longer be tolerated in the state as offenders can now face up to 15 years jail term as punishment.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, on Sunday, quoted the acting governor as saying this while inaugurating the task force unit of the real properties law of Oyo State in Ibadan.
Adisa added that those who aid and abet land grabbers would also not go without being punished, declaring that the state is ready to stamp out the menace of land grabbing.
He quoted Lawal as saying that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde places priority on peace, order and security of lives and properties in the state.
He added that it would leave no stone unturned in its determination to sustain peace and security.
Lawal said, “Inaugurating this task force unit further underscores the recognition of this administration that its primary business is economic growth and maintenance of law and order, in consonance with its four cardinal objectives.
“Land grabbing will no longer be tolerated in Oyo State and under the law, land grabbers can now be jailed for up to 15 years while those who aid and abet them will also not go scot-free.
“In setting up this task force, we took into consideration public and private stakeholders in land management and security service.
“The task force will be headed by a retired judge of the Oyo State High Court, His Lordship, Hon. Justice O.I. Aiki, a jurist of high repute. Members of both the public and private bar of the Nigerian Bar Association are included, while officials of relevant ministries, departments and agencies as well as the Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers are all included.’’
Also, the Lagos State Taskforce has warned against land grabbing, following the agency’s arrest of five suspects of a notorious land grabbing syndicate known for causing mayhem and disrupting developmental activities and construction in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
The agency’s Chairman, Shola Jejeloye, disclosed this in a statement signed by the agency’s Director, Press and Public Affairs, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, on Sunday.
Jejeloye stated that the crime syndicate comprised of men and women who had been known for terrorising legitimate property owners and occupants within Sango-Tedo, Lakowe, Abijo and the entire environs of Ibeju Lekki, adding that the “Omo-Onile” as they are popularly called, have received series of appeals and warnings from the state government to desist from carrying out their acts but remained adamant.
He said, “Residents and victims of these land grabbers have laid a series of complaints to the taskforce which made us carry out our own investigation leading to warnings being issued to them. It is quite unfortunate that they feel untouchable and daring but with this action carried out by us, they will learn to obey the laws of the state. There is no room for land grabbers in Lagos.”
He urged Lagosians to resist the urge to pay the land grabbers money for properties which were legitimately purchased and to report any incident or activities by the grabbers to the Lagos State Taskforce, which has one of its core responsibilities rooted in ensuring that activities of land grabbers in Lagos are completely stamped out.
