The development areas/zones, made up of over 300 communities, were reportedly resettled on the land by the state government after they gave up their land for a state project.
A Lagos State resident, Saheed Mosadoluwa, more commonly called Ibile, has denied reports that he invaded Yegunda, Abomiti and Eyin-Osa development areas with thugs.
The development areas/zones, made up of over 300 communities, were reportedly resettled on the land by the state government after they gave up their land for a state project.
However, last Saturday, hoodlums stormed the communities on Saturday, July 16, to sack residents.
They were said to have set three thatched houses on fire, vandalise several buildings and injured residents, who were rushed to a hospital for treatment.
The hoodlums stole rams and motorcycles as several people were dispossessed of their phones and money.
On Wednesday, the council of chiefs, resettlement committee members and community youths took to the streets to protest the attack.
The protesters, who gathered at the Ilamija Junction, Epe, lamented the brutalisation and loss of property during the attack.
They accused Ibile and one Otunba of being behind the attack.
The Odofin of Epe and Chairman of Eyin-Osa Resettlement Committee, High Chief Olatunde Oluwo, said the land, measuring about 800 hectares, was statutorily awarded to them by the Lagos State Government.
However, Ibile in a statement sent to SaharaReporters denied the accusation, saying he never hired hoodlums to invade the communities.
"I will never storm anywhere with pitchfork; not going to be in field battle with anyone; Olatunde Oluwo fronting for the Oloja Epe knows that he is part of those who formed a group of land grabbers to harass and intimidate others who they jointly don't have land on that ressetlement land. Oluwo and co are planning to set me up, I want to assure them that they cannot stop the legal framework in securing justice for the voiceless of the Parapo of (Abomiti, Yeguda and Eyin-Osa),” he said.
“The game of framing people up with police would not work. We would explore ADR to see those who are there to play game. Where are the burnt houses as it was reported? Who burnt them?
“In the first place, who is attempting to forcefully take what doesn't belong to him? Ordinarily, I wouldn't have responded to the report but I just have to, so as to keep the record straight. I read in the news and base on available documents In 2006, when Lekki Free Zone kicked off, about three communities got affected, and they are Abomiti, Yeguda & Eyin-Osa, and the state government allocated another land, which is 10% of what the government compulsorily acquired for the displaced communities elsewhere for their resettlement, years after, some Lagos State Government officials, and two traditional rulers in Epe and Ogun State, are now making attempt to hijack and convert to theirs, without recourse to the real beneficiaries so as to start selling through some real estate companies.”
“Having noticing this, the recognised Chairman of the Free Trade Zone Parcel B Resettlement Communities, Chief Obafemi Onayemi Obajimi (Baale Onigbagbo) and other family representatives of Abomiti, Eyin-Osa, Yeguda-Parapo raised an alarm over the moves made by Surveyor Olusegun Awokoya who the oppressed communities believed was working for Mrs Lola Akande, the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, in collaboration with Oba Kamarudeen Animashaun, the Oloja of Epe conniving with one Oba Ganiyu Olusegun Awokoya aka {Alhaji White}, the Onirete of Irete in Ogun State, to convert the entire Abomiti, Yeguda & Eyin-Osa resettlement land for Kickbacks.
“Chief Onayemi and the concerned leaders of the three communities therefore wrote protest letters to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, the attorney general of the state and Mrs Lola Akande led ministry of commerce, industry and cooperative. The victims also wrote to the above mentioned Monarchs with no response, rather, Ahaji White was threatening them with all sorts of unimaginable things and even started looking for ways to set me up by burning their hoot on land to claim Ibile did that.
“Just yesterday, I learnt that Mrs Lola Akande-led Ministry of Commerce responded to the protest letter earlier written to the ministry by the displaced communities for Parcel B and Free Trade Zone where they advised that the victims should speak with one of our fathers in temple of justice Lanre Ogunlesi, SAN who they claimed their own factor of the communities did not engage as their Lawyer. I read another letter that was sent across to Lanre Ogunlesi, SAN so as to stop parading himself as the lawyer of the entire displaced communities.
“One thing that people do not actually understand is the fact that Mr Ibile is an individual who is not a lawyer and there is a Law Firm called Ibile Partner, whenever that the firm name got mentioned people believe they are talking of Mr Ibile. Why are they trying to crucify Ibile partners for taking up legal framework for the displaced free zone communities that decided to engage Ibile Partner?”