CEDSER Petitions IG, Oyebanji Over Activities Of Land Speculators

The Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Rights, (CEDSER) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, (IG) and the activities of land in Itapaji-Ekiti located in Ajoni Local Government area of Ekiti State.

In the petition the rights group said some land grabbers invaded Itapaji, one of the most fertile soil in the Northern fringe of Ekiti where they are currently bulldozing several acres of land without prior and informed consent of the owners of the land and the traditional institution in the community.

The group also petitioned the state Governor, Abiodun Oyebani calling on him to investigate the land grabbers, adding that the invasion of ancestral land of the community raises fundamental questions about the future of the environment and livelihood of some 10,000 people who have lived on their ancient land for close to 1000 years.

The rights group said investigations have revealed that the state Governor Oyebanji is not aware of the destructive mission of the invaders.

The group  in the petition signed by foremost rights activists, Mr Popoola Ajayi and Mallam Idris Shettima  on behalf of the community said the community has confidence that the state Governor when briefed will wade in and stop the willful destruction on going at Itapaji-Ekiti.

The group said petitions have also been written to prominent lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana and other regional human rights bodies for a concerted effort to stop the environmental carnage.

CEDSER who said the invaders appeared to have come with armed men whose status is unknown added that reports received from community leaders in the town indicated that the encroachment on the ancestral land of Itapaji people began two years ago but was halted partly due to communal resistance.

The rights group said the invaders came with several heavy duty equipment which had led to loss of valuable trees, vast farmland, destruction of sacred spiritual sites, adding that special species of plants and animals have been destroyed.

‘The community woke up to the noise of bulldozers and caterpillars. The invaders had no discussion with anyone. The agricultural crops, spiritual worship places of the indigenous communities, their plants and lurch green forest, their health-giving plants were mauled down in a few hours by an unknown group of land grabbers who claim to be acting on orders from above. The invaders target over 100 hectares of land which is almost half of the entire landmass of the community’’ the group said.

The group said the community youths and elders are prepared to lay down their lives than to allow their land and ancestry to be wiped out by a profiteering, inhuman, cruel and greedy racketeers urging the Inspector General of Police, (IG), the State Governor, Oyebanji and other human right groups to urgently intervene to stop an epic resistance that could lead to the loss of human lives.