Landgrabbers invade Ajasa-Command area of Lagos State

By Tayo ABIOLA

Ajasa-Command area of Lagos State was thrown into confusion on Friday when landgrabbers from Sango Ota, Ogun State, invaded the peaceful community.

Numbering more than 500, including about 20 soldiers of the Nigerian Army wearing MP on their sleeves, occupying an army colour pickup van with registration number NA 709BOF, the landgrabbers from Sango Ota, Ogun State claimed they were on an execution of judgment mission over an expanse of community accommodating not less than 15000 residents.

There was also a police contingent of more than 40 officers occupying yellow-coloured Volkswagen commercial buses led by one Chief Mutairu Owoeye, a notorious land grabber based in Sango-Ota, Ogun State.

Some of the pick-up vans they came with were packed in the community.

The land grabbers claimed they were packing on behalf of one Kehinde Ologunebi family which had engaged the Ajasa family in a legal land tussle for over 50 years.

The case which had gone through the Lagos High Court, and the Court of Appeal is presently before the Supreme Court which is yet to deliver judgment on the matter.

Residents of the area are majorly people who derived their title from the Oba of Ajasa and had been engaging the Ologunebi family in talks being the affected parties.

It was, therefore, a shock for the residents when the land grabbers invaded the community on Friday morning with dangerous weapons such as charms, daggers, and guns.

As of press time, they still laid siege on the community, locking gates of houses and not allowing people to go inside, or come out of their houses.

They also laid siege to the home and workplace of a resident, stopping his block-making business. They vowed to remain in the community until they took full possession of the land in dispute.

Residents are presently in fear of what will happen at nightfall. Some are already making alternative arrangements to relocate pending the time the land grabbers will leave the community.

Meiran Police Station which is less than a kilometre away from the area is yet to respond.