Stop Treating Lagos Land Grabbers With Kid Gloves, Activists Tell Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, IGP

Human rights activists, under the platform of Human Rights Action Watch, have urged President Bola Tinubu, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and  security agents to rise in defence of innocent citizens being oppressed by land grabbers across Lagos State.

The activists, who highlighted the threats to life and public peace by land grabbers in Ibeju-Lekki, Epe division called on the government, Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Department of State Security Service and National Security Adviser, to wipe away tears of victims.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos, the President of the group, Mr Tunji Balogun, said that a notorious land grabbers one Saheed Mosadoluwa (aka Ibile), had continued to wreak enough havocs in the area brazenly.

Balogun, said that not only the property owners had suffered and still counting losses, artisans and workers working in some sites had so many pathetic stories to tell of the havoc of this land grabber and his violent gangs.

According to him, the land grabber  has continued to act unlawfully above the law of the land under protection by some security agencies at the detriment of the voiceless people.

He called on the government and the security to conduct criminal full investigation against the land grabber and all state actors conniving with them to wipe away tears from victim eyes.

He said that the notorious activities of the landlord on Sunday led to the burning down of property belonging to one Esther Otsabomhe, and while her workers were also whisked away.

He said that recently, a middle aged bricklayer, Sodiq Kolapo was shot and killed by the land grabbers, saying the wife of the deceased artisan was still in sorrow with three children.

He said that if not managed swiftly, the atrocities of land grabbers could snowballed into act similar to terrorism in the nearest future.

Balogun said that the said land grabber, palpably working for some top influential persons, had led to the several, killings, maiming, butchering, arrest of many people.

Also speaking, Mrs Joke Kolapo, the widow of the slain bricklayer, said things had been difficult for her and the children since her husband was killed.

Kolapo said her husband was allegedly attacked by land grabbers at a construction site in the community, adding that the assailants also took his body away.

She said: “He was just working as a bricklayer, a labourer for that matter at the site, not even a native of the land.

“I was expecting  my husband to come home on that particular day and I waited till midnight, but I didn’t see him.

“I tried his line several times, it was not reachable.

“I later went to his friend who introduced him to the job and asked for his whereabouts.

“He told me that they were attacked by the land grabbers and my husband had been shot dead and his body taken away.

“I was shocked hearing that from him and I cried like a baby.

“Up till now, I have not seen my husband’s body or his burial ground. I am a nursing mother with three children.

“I want the government to intervene and come to my aid and the community.” 

The community had on Feb 2, sent a Save our Soul message to the governor and the Inspector General of Police to urgently come to their rescue.