What would have turned into a major violent crisis in Eredo Community, in Obafemi-Owode Local government area of Ogun State, was averted on Tuesday evening, as two rival groups of alleged land-grabbers engaged in a free for all.
To this end, the Inhabitants of the Community, led by their traditional head, Chief Rasak Amujara called on Governor Dapo Abiodun and security agencies in the State to save them from the activities of the duo of one Samson sodeinde A.k.a Eleda and Ajibola Johnson of Young Agro Limited, who have continued to terrorise innocent members of the community, while perpetrating their land grabbing activities.
Chief Amujara who explained that Ajibola Johnson and Samson Sodeinde also known as Eleda are rival land grabbing heads terrorizing the Eredo community said, “they bring in thugs to the community to protect and fight against each other in a bid to forcefully take over people’s lands”.
According to him, “Eredo community was again in fear today as members of the rival groups engage themselves. They were armed with sticks and other dangerous weapons”, he said.
He alleged that these people deceive land owners by claiming that their lands have been taken over by the Ogun State government for overriding public interest.
The alleged land grabbers are also accused of conniving with some workers in the ministry of lands, to lay claim to such lands, with fake documents proving that the lands have been allocated to them, while selling off the lands to private individuals including Chinese nationals.
In his words, the Baale said “these people use the name of the government of Ogun state in connivance with some officials of the Bureau of Lands services to forcibly enter into landed properties belonging to several persons selling same to Chinese Nationals, thereby displacing Farmers and land owners in the community.
Chief Amujara then appealed to the governor, to save them from the alleged land grabbers whose activities not only paint the name of the community bad, but also put inhabitants in panick mode whenever they begin their acts.
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.
