Tension Over Alleged Sale Of Community Land To Developers In Edo

Tension is currently brewing in Iguelegbon community of Ovia North-East local area of Edo State following the alleged illegal sale of 400 plots of land by Dr. Taiwo Aifuwa, the former community youth association chairman, to a popular estate developer in the State.

The large expanse of land was said to have been sold without the consent of the community’s elders and youths.

Convener, Concerned Edo Youth, Comrade Gbale Joseph, while addressing a press conference on the issue in Benin City on Tuesday, said the community had written petitions to the police and the palace of the revered monarch of the community, saying the committee set up to investigate the matter had been slow to act.

The group demanded that the Edo State Government take immediate action to curb the resurgence of land grabbing and illegal sales of land, which were fast becoming a menace in the state.

They also called on the Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute Dr. Aifuwa for the alleged criminal act.

The group noted, “We call on the Edo State Government to immediately use the private property protection law to curb this resurgence of land grabbing and illegal sales of land that is fast becoming a menace in the state.

“That no part of Iguelegbon community will be touched without the consent of the community, hence we are alerting the world and all the
security agencies

“That we have confidence in the committee set up by the palace been headed by chief Osaro Idah even though Dr. Aifuwa has been bragging to have allegedly paid millions of naira to the committee, claiming that nothing will come out from the committee.”

When contacted, Dr. Taiwo Aifuwa, however, denied the allegation of illegal sale of the said land to the developer, adding that the elders of the community were responsible for any land related issues.

He described the allegation by the youth group as baseless and unfounded, adding that he has continued to run the affair of the community with utmost integrity and transparency.

“The allegations are completely rubbish. I have received several calls over the matter. I am not in any way involved in the said sale. They should direct the matter to the elders of the community,” Aifuwa stated.