Coca-cola staff cooperative society residents lament land grabbers encroachment, demand government intervention
By Ifeoma Ikem
Association of Nigeria bottling company staff cooperative society in Oke -Eletu 3rd powerline Coca cola estate, Ijede, Ikorodu , Lagos state have lamented the continuous encroachment of their cooperative land by suspected land-grabbers from the present Baale of Oke-Eletu.
Our correspondent learnt that no fewer than 10 plots of land belonging to the cooperative staff society have been encroached by suspects since the land was bought from the late Baale who was the head of the two families Ayanolu and Shogba family since 2013 when the cooperative society purchased 20.106 hectares of land from government layout.
Briefing newsmen at the residential estate yesterday, the cooperative president Comr Omoniyi Ibuoye said that their staff were living happily until after the demise of the head of the two family late Kasimu Shogba, former Baale of Oke Eletu.
“Immediately after the death of the former Baale late Kasimu Shogba, the present Baale, Alhaji Nofiu Abiodun known as Adele invited our cooperative staff society member to start developing their lands because the community will not accommodate any bush in and around them but we appealed to him that everyone can not start building at same time.
“To our surprise, land-grabbers, known as Omo-oniles started encroaching on some of our land which we reported to him and the police: with the intervention of police he said that for peace to reign we should settle with gratification
and promised us that nobody will encroach on the land again but to our greatest surprise he went and sued the cooperative staff society at the high court saying he did not know us.
“We tasked every member with a levy to settle the Baale but after the settlement which he promised that nobody will encroach or disturb the association again but it continued.
“Now the matter is in court and land-grabbers continued to encroach on our land even the one with structures on it and the Baale told us that nothing can happen even if we reported back to the police when we went to him.
He denied knowing us and still sent his boys to seize our working materials from our member whenever they want to build or develop their land: we have reported this matter to the police yet nothing has been done”.
Comr Afolabi Silas, the former vice president of the association said that they are calling on government to come to their aid, the matter is in court, we duly settled everything concerning this land, this is our benefit after working with Coca cola as staff.
A residents of the estate who’s name is not mentioned informed our correspondent that he bought his land when he learnt that Coca-Cola staff cooperative society purchased hectares of land at 3rd power line Coca cola estate of Ijede.
“We have been living in peace and tranquillity until recently when this encroachment issue started, he added.
