The once peaceful Isoso community in the GRA quarters of Sagamu main town has been thrown into confusion as a result of the invasion of the area by some persons suspected to be thugs.
According to reports reaching, the hoodlums allegedly led by one notorious land grabber in the town, Mutairu Owoeye, otherwise known as Baba Owoeye, invaded the community, destroying properties worth millions of Naira.
Business activities were also allegedly halted as a result of his invasion with more than 200 hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons.
It was learnt that this man has refused to stop his land grabbing activities despite the Ogun State government signing the anti-land grabbing bill into law.
Under the law signed by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, offenders risk 25 years imprisonment or death sentence if their actions lead to death.
The bill was passed on October 11, 2016 and is titled, “H.B. No. 03/2016 – A bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and allied matters and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.”
Land grabbers are commonly known as ‘Omoniles’ in the South West region of the country and they usually request for money for anyone to carry out any construction work on their legitimate properties. They are also involved in the sale of landed properties and sometimes sell the same piece of land to several persons, causing unnecessary litigations.
According to reports, Baba Owoeye allegedly carries out his land grabbing activities with the support of the recently-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), boasting that he is above the law and that no government can punish him.
It was gathered that sometimes ago, two families in Isoso community had a dispute over three hectares of land in the area and both headed to court for settlement. At the end, both families secured same Supreme Court judgment ceding the three-hectare property to them (the two families), but stating that both must be in consent whenever any of them decides to sell the piece of land.
According to report, one Mr Jimoh Olatunji, the Agba Akin of Makun Kingdom in Sagamu, in collaboration with Mr Onayemi, Baba Owoeye and one Olowo Ake, led about 200 bandits to the area recently, disturbing those whose properties are not even on the disputed three hectares of land.
During a visit of a reporter to the area, thugs were seen with some dangerous weapons, threatening to inflict injuries on anyone who dares question their authority, including the reporter.
As a result, some residents of the area have cried out to Governor Amosun to arrest the situation. It was gathered that petitions have been written to the Governor and the Inspector General of Police to this effect.
Meanwhile, efforts to talk to Baba Owoeye on this matter proved abortive as he could not be reached for comments.
