Blog

“Land grabbers in Lagos State have been operating with apparent impunity, leading many residents to believe that they enjoy support from individuals in positions of authority. These land grabbers frequently invade construction sites, armed with various dangerous weapons, to either extort money from site workers or force them off the property, claiming that the land belongs to someone else.

These audacious land grabbers also engage in forcibly taking over properties from rightful owners and reselling them to the highest bidder. In some cases, they may offer an alternative piece of land in an entirely different location to the victims of their illegal activities.

The activities of these land grabbers go beyond property takeovers; they also involve physical violence, assault, dehumanization, and even murder of their victims without remorse. In recent times, there has been an increase in violent land-grabbing incidents in Lagos, leading to frequent crises, particularly in areas such as Lekki, Ibeju Lekki, and Epe.

One notable case involved the alleged murder of a traditional ruler of Lotu Town in Ibeju Lekki, Fatai Jubril, on July 15, 2023, in a land dispute. Jubril’s widow, Ejiro, who had a three-month-old baby at the time, accused another traditional ruler of the area of killing her husband. She claimed that after the assailants beat and brutalized her husband, the Baale (traditional ruler) shot him, callously stating that her husband had seen what he was looking for.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident and mentioned that the police had launched a manhunt for the suspected killers, resulting in one arrest. However, the spokesperson for the Zone 2 Command, Hauwa Idris-Adamu, later indicated that the prime suspect had been released on bail.

Jubril’s case is just one example of how land-grabbing activities in Lagos continue unchecked, causing residents immense suffering and loss of both property and loved ones.”

“In another case related to land-grabbing, a resident of Lagos, Shamsudeen Oluwo, is seeking justice after an alleged assault by one Saheed Mosadoluwa, also known as Ibile, in the Epe area of the state.

In a video circulating on social media, Oluwo claimed that on July 8, while he was working at his construction site, Ibile, accompanied by some policemen and armed thugs, arrived at the location and began firing guns randomly.

The three-minute video shows Oluwo being forced to kneel down and subsequently stripped naked by the thugs, with police officers present at the scene, doing nothing to intervene. The video also depicts young men being brutalized, dehumanized, and stripped naked by suspected land grabbers.

In his account of the incident, Oluwo stated, ‘I have a serious issue that I want Nigerians to help me with. On July 8, I was working on my site around 10 am when I saw people coming to the site. I saw Mr. Saheed with many policemen and cultists armed with guns, cutlasses, machetes, and charms. They started shooting sporadically, and some people ran away while others were hit by gunfire. To avoid being shot, I lay down with my workers.'”

Oluwo further narrated how Ibile and his group took them into the bush and covered their eyes, intending to kill them. Fortunately, two farmers passing by intervened, causing Ibile’s group to flee. Oluwo and his workers were stripped naked, recorded, and the video was posted on Facebook.

In response, Ibile expressed regret for his actions, stating it was a case of self-defense. He alleged that Oluwo had contacted him while he was in Saudi Arabia, claiming that he was hired to assassinate Ibile for a fee of N12,000,000, with an offer to spare him for N100,000,000. Ibile accused Oluwo of attempting to assassinate him upon his return from Saudi Arabia.

The police confirmed the incident and mentioned that Oluwo and five others were arrested, with Oluwo later charged to court. Ibile also claimed that Oluwo confessed to being paid for the assassination, although this claim remains unverified.

A group of public interest lawyers, Lawyers for Reform Group, demanded justice for Oluwo and criticized the police for converting a victim into a suspect. They submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police on the matter.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, assured that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police was handling the case and that justice would be served.

Efforts to reach Oluwo for his side of the story were unsuccessful.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, expressed the Lagos State government’s commitment to addressing land-grabbing issues and encouraged victims to seek government assistance rather than resorting to self-help.”

This rephrased passage provides a detailed account of the land-grabbing incident involving Shamsudeen Oluwo, including his premonition, the alleged assault, and the response from various parties.