Human Rights Activists condemn Lagos State govt’s silence over serial land grabbing
By Ifeoma Ikem
Groups of Human Rights Activists have condemned the continuous silence of the Lagos State Government on the series of cases of land grabbing in the state.
Comrade Alex Omotehinse, President, Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) noted that the seemingly silence and powerlessness of the Lagos State government over the activities of the group is worrisome.
Omotehinse said this at a press conference in Lagos to tackle the unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu Community (AJIRAN LAND) in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
“We have been inundated with reports relating to recalcitrance of the main actors in the crisis in the Ojomu community; including the unfortunate murder of a youth leader, one Sheriff Salami at MOBA town adjacent to AJIRAN.
“According to reports made available to us, the late Salami who was said to have been gruesomely murdered in broad daylight on April 18 had maintained firm opposition to the activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community.
“We are saddened by the killing of Salami in a cruel circumstance suspected to be a fallout of the his opposition to the activities of land grabbers in the community.
“Most victims are frustrated by the seemingly lack of commitment of the government to address the challenge headlong in spite of the establishment and operation of a Task Force established under the Law of Lagos State”.
He said that CHSR are worried that land grabbers are becoming more entrenched than hitherto imagined in spite of a Task Force established to nip the menace in the bud.
The group therefore demanded for a priority attention from the Lagos State Government with the view to making all relevant agencies particularly the Task Force on Land Grabbing more proactive and
responsive to their mandates.
“We are more concerned that most of the land being forcibly confiscated by these land grabbers are legally and validly documented by the original owners most of whom are in possession of genuine Deed of Assignment and with full authorisation of the relevant families from whom the lands were purchased.
“We call on the Lagos State government and the Police to probe the death of Sheriff Ishola Salami (a.k.a AGBOWORIN) who was a son of late BASHORUN OF AJIRAN Land, Chief Ishola Salami.
“We demand justice for late Salami who left 3 children and an aged mother behind”.
He disclosed that following the last press conference, a protest was staged by one Wasiu Yekini Akinsemoyin a non-indigene of Ojomu community but an ally of Mr Ahmed Tajudeen who has been fingered in the land grabbing cases by the victims.
“The protest staged behind the Palace of Oba of AJIRAN LAND, His Royal Highness, OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II was without doubt aimed to further harass, intimidate and denial of access to the right of the authentic owners.
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“And also to threaten all the stakeholders and victims who had lodged complaints at CHSR regarding infractions on their rights”, he said.
