society
Afero Farmers protest displacement from Government allocated farmland in Lagos by Nigerian Military
Afero Farmers protest displacement from Government allocated farmland in Lagos by Nigerian Military
…Ask Lagos State government, House of Assembly Speaker, well-meaning Nigerians to help them recover lost investment
A group of Nigerian Corporate farmers from the Diaspora and Nigerian Farmers, has protested their displacement from their corporate farms which produces crops and animal worth millions of naira on a daily basis.
Speaking during a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Chairman Afero/Eluju Mowo/Mutaku commercial farmers, Wale Oyekoya, said they had a dream of building a better Nigeria and for this, they brought back their life savings and foreign investment to invest in Nigeria.
Oyekoya said: “Those dreams were crushed when on the morning of the 11th day of December 2023, in a brutal display of violence and utter carnage during the late season rains around 11:15 am that day they were violently invaded and brutally attacked by elements of the Nigerian military.
“We are not cutlasses and hoes farmers, we utilise the latest in mechanised machinery and equipment imported from China, US and France and practice farming on a Commercial scale thereby contributing to a large percentage of crop production to the Country and to Lagos State.
“The Nigerian Government in its wisdom instructed the Nigerian Army, the same Army supported by the taxes paid by the very same farmers, to redeploy its resources from protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria to attack its Nigerian citizens and the soldiers mercilessly taunting the farmers with the fact they cannot do anything because there will be no repercussions and they will never be held accountable for their actions.
“There was no letter of warning, phone call, Memo demand or indeed any correspondence that the farmers have done anything wrong or even that they should vacate the land. Even a declaration of war generally requires some sort of warning nothing of sort took place.
“Instead the Nigerian Military, men whose salaries and livelihoods depend on taxpayers’ money beat the living daylights out of the hand that feeds them. This is really what the Security Vote is now being used for.
“This is why we Nigerians pay our taxes. So that we can be terrorised, tortured and mocked by the very people whose livelihoods we are sponsoring.
“The government is always asking for foreign investors, but who wants to invest in a country where one day you are carrying out your farming activities to prepare for the Christmas and New Year festive sales, with Billions of Naira worth of your life savings, the next day you are running for your life and dodging bullets as if you are in apocalypse IV!
“We sold off our successful companies, investments and houses from all over the world to invest in this our country Nigeria, We used the money to finance, fencing, designing farmland, landscaping, commercial fish ponds, piggeries, poultries, rabbitries, cattle ranches, hydroponic and greenhouse farms of different foods and cash crops for exports and local consumptions, snail pens, general abattoirs, etc. and invested sophisticated mechanised agricultural machines, preservative and processing electronic equipment, electricity generating plants, farmhouses, irrigation machinery, only to have it all callously destroyed not by brigands, bandits or Boko Haram but by the same Nigerian government that claims to be seeking foreign investments, claims to be trying to alleviate the food crisis when that could not be further from the truth.”
Oyekoya said they got the land legitimately from Lagos State Government. As a law abiding citizens, we reported the military invasion to the govrnment in December and on January to the the governor and Speaker of the House and nothing has been done and we are loosing investment money daily as the military men will not allow us to enter into our farms and their workers and the military men continue looting our properties and crops on a daily basis. He noted that they have been on the land allocated to them by Lagos State undisturbed for the past ten years peacefully and commercially farming their crops and raising their animal till the military invasion in December 2023.
“We had no idea when we were allocated parcels of land by a Lagos State Government that the land belonged to the military government and who waited patiently for us to set up and operate for over 10 years before sending various soldiers to take up combat positions all over the farmland and alleging the land belongs to the Nigerian Military.
“They started firing bullets at the farm workers who were running for cover and anyone they got hold of they beat up indiscriminately women, small children, and teenagers, some of our customers were flogged with horsewhips and relieved of their personal belongings.
“They went on to destroy crops, plants and hundreds of millions of nairas worth of imported farming equipment, stealing livestock, breaking down the walls erected for protective covers of the farms effectively decimating and disbanding the whole business enterprise of farmers on over 300 acres of land.
“To give you an idea of the scale of destruction the Vatican which is a whole country with embassies all over the world rests on 200 Acres of Land.
“Anyone can go there now and they will find the Nigerian army there on the Afero Farmers farmland to date because this was a government-backed initiative and this was further corroborated by the Senior army officer that led the invasion Brigadier General Ememe from 81 division, who categorically confirmed it.
“We, like you, used to believe that there was once a country called Nigeria, one in which the Nigerian army was not above the law. Today it has been emphatically been made clear to us that is not the case.
“There was no need for the Federal Government to take the path of violence and intimidation. They did it because they can and they could. We were not aware that the inflationary food prices were part of the government policy and agenda.
“They should simply have told us that they want to keep food prices high, they do not want us to invest our hard-earned money and expertise in Lagos State and we would happily have gone to another country where our investment would be appreciated.
“We, the Afero farmers had previously relied on the assurances of the Lagos State Government to grant it Allocation documents, survey plan, and Certificate of Occupancy and put it in exclusive possession and ownership of the State’s owned land with the further implied assurance that it will enjoy peaceful holding and use of the said land, we agreed to the aforesaid new location as part of the expected compensation although very far off from its displaced Afero community.
“We have lost billions in investments and many of us are facing financial crisis as we had to borrow money when our original investment was taken over by Lagos State ostensibly for public good but we later discovered it was parcelled up and used as housing estates.
“In this circumstance, we no longer see Lagos State or Nigeria as a safe investment destination but more as the Wild Wild West Africa that they have shown themselves to be. We want ALL our money back and we want our land back and we want Justice.
“This has been a learning experience the wealth of which we will ensure that all our brothers and sisters in the diaspora are emphatically made aware of. Nigeria is a country that is hostile to foreign investment and no foreigner should risk investing here as they could lose not only their investment but also their lives.
“We are tax-paying citizens with voters cards and to our shame and abject disappointment we voted for this government, and for this we apologise to our Nigerian Brothers and Sisters both in this country and in the diaspora. We were sold a dream and like you we bought it.
“You could be next. What is there to stop it from happening to you? You too could be sitting in your house or your farm and then the Nigerian Army will invade, beat up your wife, your workers, laugh in your face whilst destroying your property. They will collect taxes from you from your hard-earned money claiming it is for for security vote but instead it will be used to grab your property and terrorise you.
“We therefore ask members of the general public, and other Nigerian officials who have a conscience to have pity on us and assist us to get our money and land back. We have learned a hard lesson from this Nigerian Government and we shall never forget it,” he said.
society
Liberian Leaders, Citizens Bear Witness as Apostle Suleman Hosts Two-Day Power-Packed Crusade
Liberian Leaders, Citizens Bear Witness as Apostle Suleman Hosts Two-Day Power-Packed Crusade
It was testimonies galore on Tuesday, March 31, the first day of the famous servant of God and founder of the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman’s power-packed two-day crusade. The event documented impactful moments with the Gospel and miracles, emphasizing the power of faith and the tangible confirmation of God’s Word through signs and wonders. It was equally an atmosphere of miraculous healing, restoration of lives, and the strengthening of faith.
At the crusade, which was held at the SKD Sports Stadium in Paynesville City, and themed, “Liberia Outpouring Crusade” witnessed testimonies of impact and miracles with participants experiencing instant healing of various kinds of challenges.
Apostle Suleman’s first port of call was Paynesville, the office of Liberian government’s president, Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who received him in an audience with his junior ministers. Apostle Suleman, who also met with the vice-president, Mr. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, was welcomed by the Liberian leader’s office as part of the president’s ongoing engagements with religious leaders aimed at fostering spiritual support for national development.
The president expressed profound appreciation to Apostle Suleman for the visit and continued prayers and intercessions by men and women of God on behalf of Liberia, emphasizing his firm belief that sustained spiritual guidance and prayer remain vital to the transformation and progress of the nation.
During the visit, Apostle Suleman offered prayers for President Boakai, his cabinet and the Liberian nation, invoking divine alignment, wisdom, and insight in Liberia’s path toward growth and stability. He prayed that the Almighty God would position Liberia for relevance and fulfillment of its national destiny.
Apostle Johnson Suleman, an evangelist who knows no bounds of where preaching the gospel comes to a stop, visited Liberia prepared with the message, compelling power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, and bringing people to a point of decision where they surrendered their lives to Christ.
Aside from being prophetic and timely, OFM sources disclosed that the servant of God’s visit underscores the importance of faith-based partnerships in supporting governance and national renewal efforts.
society
Middle Belt Forum Hails Tinubu’s Jos Visit, Calls for United Civil-Military Effort to Restore Lasting Peace
*Middle Belt Forum Hails Tinubu’s Jos Visit, Calls for United Civil-Military Effort to Restore Lasting Peace
The Middle Belt Peace Forum (MBPF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his profound demonstration of empathy and responsive leadership following his decision to postpone an official engagement in Iperu in order to visit victims of the recent attacks in Jos.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Pastor Bulus Garba, in Jos on Friday, the Forum said the President’s decision to personally identify with grieving communities sends a powerful message of solidarity and reinforces public confidence in the commitment of the Federal Government to the protection of lives and property.
“The Middle Belt Peace Forum warmly commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising compassion over ceremony. At a time of deep sorrow for the people of Plateau State, his decision to visit Jos stands as a mark of true leadership—one that listens, responds, and stands with the people in their moment of pain,” the statement read.
The Forum described the perpetrators of the recent attacks as “cowards who prey on innocent and defenceless citizens,” stressing that such acts of violence are not only inhumane but also a direct assault on the unity and peace of the nation.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the actions of these cowardly attackers whose only aim is to instil fear and destabilise peaceful communities. Their actions must be met with firm and decisive resistance from all arms of the state,” Pastor Garba said.
The MBPF further used the opportunity to salute the courage, gallantry, and sacrifices of the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, noting that their continued efforts remain central to restoring stability across troubled parts of the country.
According to the Forum, the Armed Forces have demonstrated resilience and professionalism in the face of complex security challenges, often operating under difficult conditions to safeguard communities and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“We salute the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their unwavering commitment and sacrifices. Their gallantry in confronting criminal elements and reclaiming territories is a testament to their dedication to national service. We recognise that the path to peace is demanding, and we honour those who stand daily in defence of our nation,” the statement added.
The Forum pledged its full support to ongoing military operations and called for strengthened collaboration between security agencies and local communities as a critical factor in achieving lasting peace.
It also urged citizens across the Middle Belt to cooperate with security forces by providing timely information and fostering unity within their communities.
The MBPF, however, expressed concern over the need for greater synergy among security agencies, particularly the role of the Nigeria Police in consolidating gains made by the military.
“We call on the Nigeria Police Force to rise fully to its constitutional responsibility by effectively supporting the Armed Forces in stabilising and securing areas that have been cleared of criminal elements. Holding and policing such territories is essential to preventing a resurgence of violence,” Pastor Garba stated.
The Forum emphasised that sustainable peace requires a coordinated approach in which the military clears and secures areas, while the police maintain law and order to enable displaced communities to return and rebuild their lives.
The MBPF concluded by reiterating its commitment to peacebuilding efforts across the Middle Belt and expressed optimism that with sustained leadership, coordinated security efforts, and active citizen participation, lasting peace can be achieved.
“Together, through unity, vigilance, and collective resolve, we can overcome these challenges and build a safer and more peaceful Middle Belt,” the statement added.
Governor Dauda Lawal Wins Face of Africa Governor of the Year Award in London
Governor Dauda Lawal has been honored with the Outstanding Governor of the Year award by Triangle Media International Magazine.
The award was presented during the magazine’s 10th annual lecture and award ceremony, held on Thursday at the Grand Hall of King’s College, London, United Kingdom.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the awards recognize public and private sector leaders whose leadership positively impacts governance and service delivery.
He added that the lecture, themed “Harnessing the Roles of Nigerians in Diaspora for National Development,” brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
The statement read in part: “Yesterday, in London, Governor Dauda Lawal received the 2026 Face of Africa Leadership Award for Outstanding Governor of the Year.
“The 2026 edition coincides with the 10th anniversary of Triangle International Magazine, which has over the years celebrated notable Africans across diverse fields.
“The award recognizes the Zamfara State Government under Governor Lawal’s leadership for achieving remarkable milestones in service delivery since his inauguration on 29 May 2023.
“The board of Triangle International noted that, despite inheriting an empty treasury, Governor Dauda Lawal has remained true to the Rescue Agenda’s campaign promise: to rescue and rebuild Zamfara.
“The award also reflects the state government’s innovative approach to indirectly curbing insecurity through educational advancement, demonstrated by the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector.
“This includes the state government’s swift payment of the outstanding N3.4 billion for WAEC and NECO examinations, as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools across all 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.
“The international magazine finds these initiatives to be strategic interventions toward long-term efforts to make Zamfara State better.”
The colourful event was attended by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Sahara Group’s Group Managing Director, Kola Adesina, among others.
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