Residents of Yegunda, Abomiti and Eyin-Osa development areas, in the Free Trade Zone, Epe, Lagos State, have lamented the invasion of their communities by suspected land grabbers.
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.
It was gathered that the hoodlums, allegedly hired by one Ibile and one Otunba, 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.
Our correspondent also learnt that the hoodlums stole rams and motorcycles as several people were dispossessed of their phones and money.
Pictures of the attack were seen by our correspondent.
On Wednesday, the council of chiefs, resettlement committee members and community youths took to the streets to protest 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.
He said, “The government acquired our land through global acquisition. They then gave us about 800 hectares as resettlement land for the three zones. We filed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government and they gave us Certificate-of-Occupancy to show that we are the statutory owner of the land. The C-of-O was written in the association’s name.”
Oluwo said the state ministry of energy recently gave a stop work order on illegal mining on the land.
