Oyo tackles land merchants, says grabbers’ll be jailed 15 years

The acting Governor of Oyo State, Abdulroheem Lawal, has declared that land grabbers will henceforth face up to 15 years jail term in the state.

Lawal spoke while inaugurating the Task Force Unit of the real properties law of Oyo State at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan.

He added that those who aid and abet land grabbers would also not go scot-free, adding tha the state was determine to stamp out the menace of land grabbing.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, on Sunday quoted the acting Governor as stating that the administration placed a high priority on the peace, order and security of lives and properties in the state, adding that government would leave no stone unturned in its determination to sustain peace and security.

Lawal explained that the law would protect the rights of property owners, while putting a stop to the nefarious activities of land merchants, who he said, violently seize people’s land.

He said, “There is no doubt that this administration places priority on the issue of peace, order and security of the state.

“It is not in doubt that Oyo State is blessed with very large geographical land mass and because of its strategic location, if properly tapped into, the revenue generation drive of the state will be enhanced.

“Therefore, there is no gainsaying that land is an important factor, if not the most important factor for economic growth.

“Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, land speculators and some lawless individuals who want to reap from where they did not sow, engage in all sorts of antics to disturb and dispossess landed properties from their rightful owners.

“Some of them use force to demand fees from the property owners, inflict bodily injury on them, sell another person’s property and stop construction activities with the use of force, to mention a few.

“It is, therefore, worrisome that land owners are now being disturbed on daily basis by the unchecked activities of land grabbers.

“Hence, the urgent need to frontally tackle that menace by properly checking and discouraging it.

“It is against this background that the Real Properties Protection Law, 2016 was enacted. However, the Law has not taken effect due to the fact that the Task Force Unit, which is the operational unit of the Law, has not been in existence.

“Today, in demonstrating the political will of his Excellency, Seyi Makinde’s administration, the operational unit and power house of the Law is going to be inaugurated. Inaugurating this Task Force Unit further underscores the recognition of this administration that its primary business is economic growth and maintenance of law and order, in consonance with its four cardinal objectives.

“Land grabbing will no longer be tolerated in Oyo State and under the Law, land grabbers can now be jailed for up to 15 years while those who aid and abet them will also not go scot-free.

“The Task Force will be headed by a retired judge of the Oyo State High Court, His Lordship, Honourable Justice Olajumoke Aiki, a jurist of high repute.”

In her response, the Chairman of the Task Force, Justice Aiki (retd), who spoke on behalf of the committee, pledged to protect the rights of property owners, prohibit illegal occupation and violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to real properties in Oyo State.