Lagos community kick, rap govt over silence
…As youth leader is murdered
By Ifeoma Ikem
The activities of land grabbers is a clear and present danger with potential to spiral anywhere they are found.
And this was the case recently in a Lagos community where a youth leader, Sheriff Salami, was gruesomely murdered in broad daylight, reportedly the activity of land grabbers.
Precisely on April 18 this year at Moba town, adjacent to Ajiran area of Lekki axis, reports maintain that the youth leader was cut off for his firm opposition to the activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community.
Groups of human rights activists had decried the continuous and unending terror of the land grabbers in Ajiran axis under Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lekki peninsula.
Comr Alex Omotehinse, president, Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), notes that the seeming silence and powerlessness of the Lagos State government over the activities of the group worrisome.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Lagos,he said that “following our interaction with the media on Tuesday, April 18 regarding the unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu Community (AJIRAN LAND) in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, we have been inundated with reports relating to recalcitrance of the main actors in crisis in the Ojomu community; including the unfortunate murder of a youth leader, one Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent to AJIRAN.
“According to reports made available to us, the late Sheriff Salami who was said to have been gruesomely murdered in broad daylight on April 18 had maintained firm opposition to the activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community.”
Omotehinse said most victims, “are disenchanted as well as frustrated by the seemingly lack of commitment of the government to address the challenge headlong in spite of the establishment and operation of a Task Force established under the Law of Lagos State.
“Just like the various petitions by concerned community stakeholders and victims of unlawful activities of land grabbers in AJIRAN LAND provided insights into the magnitude of the challenge, CHSR is also worried that land grabbers are becoming more entrenched than hitherto imagined in spite of a Task Force established to nip the menace in the bud.”
The group therefore demanded “priority attention from the Lagos State Government with the view to making all relevant agencies; particularly the Task Force on Land Grabbing more proactive their mandate.
CHSR is however more concerned that most of the land being forcibly confiscated by these land grabbers are legally and validly documented by the original owners most of whom are in possession of genuine Deed of Assignment and with full authorisation of the relevant families from whom the lands were purchased.”
The CHSR maintained that it is “saddened by the killing, on Tuesday 18, April, of Sheriff Salami in cruel circumstances suspected to be a fallout of the deceaseds opposition to activities of land grabbers in the community.
“We call on Lagos State government and the Police to probe the death of Sheriff Ishola Salami (a.k.a AGBOWORIN) who was a son of late BASHORUN OF AJIRAN Land, Chief Ishola Salami.
“We demand justice for the deceased Sheriff Ishola Salami who left 3 children and an aged mother behind .”
Speaking further, he disclosed that following the last press conference,a protest was staged by Wasiu Yekini Akinsemoyin a non-indigene of Ojomu community but an ally of Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen who has been fingered in the land grabbing cases by the victims.
“The protest staged behind the Palace of Oba of AJIRAN LAND, His Royal Highness, OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II was without doubt aimed at further harassment,intimidation and denial of access to their birthright.
Also all the stakeholders and victims who had lodged complaints to CHSR regarding infractions on their rights, threatening of lives and properties,he said.
