Sagamu communities seek Abiodun’s intervention over landgrabbers’ invasion
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The people of Makun kingdom, in Sagamu Local Government area of Ogun State have on Friday pleaded with Gov Dapo Abiodun to please rescue them from the disturbance of the landgrabbers who have allegedly taken over about 13 villages in recent times.
The people who protested this inhuman treatment and illegal acts of the landgrabbers at Simawa fingered a royal father, Oniraniken of Iraniken, Sagamu, Oba Adewale Adeniji as the one who had allegedly brought in the hoodlums to unleash terror on the villagers.
The landgrabbing fracas was said to have been on for about three years and was thought to have been laid to rest after series of efforts made to resolve the issue like reaching out to the state government as well as the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi.
The people said they were however surprised to see the resurgence of the violent activities of the landgrabbers about a week ago around Simawa and its environs as these hoodlums armed with guns and other dangerous weapons began pulling building and fences down, destroying shops, extorting money from the people, robbing people of their motorcycles among others.
Speaking on behalf these residents, Hon Tiamiyu Fasasi Odunuga, a former two term legislator in Sagamu Local Government disclosed that they were in shock that a traditional ruler, Oba Adewale Adeniji, the Oniraniken of Iraniken, Sagamu could be this desperate to allegedly take over what never belong to him.
Hon Tiamiyu Fasasi Odunuga said “this matter dated back to around 2018 when the Oniraniken, Oba Adewale Adeniji came with a purported court judgement that the land of about 13 communities under Makun kingdom belongs to him. These communities are Ewu Ogundipe, Simawa, Kanuyi, Alahun, Ewu Ijebu, Memugba, Okerala, Ewu losi, Igbo Iwaju, Boun, Ososa, etc.
“He is laying claim to a court process that we were never part of as the other party in this case but the truth is that he doesn’t own a piece of land here. We had in the past reported him to the state government as well as the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land but nothing has really changed
“About a week ago, the same Oniraniken brought in thugs led by one Hallelujah, they invaded Simawa and its environs with guns and dangerous weapons attacking people, pulling down people’s buildings and fences, destroying shops, robbing people of their motorcycles and forcing the residents to run for their dear lives.
“Now our people live in fear, the hoodlums have sacked them from their farms. This can’t continue in a land being governed by law. We want Gov Dapo Abiodun to intervene on time before this degenerate into a communal strife, it’s becoming so frustrating and embarrassing. The police should also stop conniving with these landgrabbers to intimidate and harass people on their own land”.
Speaking similarly, Sogo Oyetola, an indigine of Simawa said that these landgrabbers had threatened to snuff life out of him if he continues to oppose their illegality acts in the area.
Oyetola said during their recent attacks on the hapless villagers, these hoodlums allegedly destroyed his cars and other properties and that he had abandoned sleeping in his house for the fear of being killed.
He said, “meanwhile, the truth remains that the Oniraniken, Oba Adewale Adeniji is only out to take by coercion what is never his, he is not from Simawa, we know ourselves, how possible is it for someone to say his land stretches to over 13 communities?
“He once took me to police headquarters in Abuja but I was set free. We don’t want to take laws into our hands and that is why we are calling on Gov Dapo Abiodun to come around and see things for himself and intervene. The people are running out of patience”.
Meanwhile, the royal father at the centre of the storm, Oniraniken of Iraniken, Sagamu, Oba Adewale Adeniji has always insisted that he has a 2018 court judgement from Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu which declared his Osoedu family as the rightful owner of the said parcel of land measuring about 4500 hectares.
