Alaafin Decries Violent Attacks On Oyo Communities By Suspected Land Grabbers

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade 1, has lamented the activities of land grabbers unleashing violent attacks on residents of 12 different communities within the ancient town.

The affected villages are located in Oyo West local government area. The vicinity of the villages covers from Odo-Itosi to Odo-Ogun.

The villages include Itosi Yaya, Tella Omooba, Jowe, Idi-Iyalode, Bada, Ladindin, Janna, Ojutaye, Iporin Kajola, Ajibade, Laagbe, and Ariwinyo.

Oba Owoade, in a statement issued by his director of Media and Publicity, Mr Bode Durojaiye, warned those bent on encroaching on other people’s property to desist from such criminal acts before they meet their waterloo.

The foremost Yoruba traditional ruler expressed concern that the land grabbers most times encroach on residents’ land by using violence, threats, or the use of force to demand fees from real property owners.

The monarch said that Oyo metropolis was blessed with a very large geographical land mass, as there is no gainsaying that land is an important factor, if not the most important factor for economic growth.

Unfortunately, he stated that somewhere along the line, these land speculators and some lawless individuals who want to reap from where they did not sow engage in all sorts of antics to disturb and dispossess rightful owners of their landed properties.

Oba Owoade reminded the grabbers that the Real Properties Protection Law, 2016 had been enacted by the Oyo State government, and that the Law has taken effect with the Task Force Unit.

“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.

“Land, the foundation of shelter, business, and investment has become one of Oyo metropolis’ most contested assets. The surge in land demand has brought with it a dark underbelly: land grabbing, illegal sales, and violent encroachments.

“For years, these activities not only robbed individuals of their properties but also undermined investor confidence and threatened peace in communities,” he said.

It would be recalled that Oba Owoade, had on ascending the revered throne decided enough was enough and set up the Land Committee to restore sanity to the system.

The committee, comprising professionals and redoubtable elders, was inaugurated to address a problem that had festered for decades.

The initiative was a response to the cries of the people who have suffered from intimidation, illegal acquisition, and the activities of unscrupulous land speculators.

The committee’s mandate is to ensure that every parcel of land in the metropolis is governed by law, not by might. Its responsibilities include investigating land fraud, encroachments, and unauthorized sales.

The monarch, therefore reiterated that his administration places high priority on the peace, order, and security of lives and properties in the Kingdom, adding that it will leave no stone unturned in its determination to sustain peace and security.

He also advised members of the public to disregard any individual, group, or business establishment who parade themselves as rightful owners of the land mass in the communities.