Leaders of Sari and Akore communities in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of Ogun on Monday appealed to Gov.Dapo Abiodun to save their communities from incessant attacks by suspected land grabbers.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Ota .
The community leaders said the invasion of their respective communities by suspected land grabbers was giving residents serious concerns ,urging the state government to take urgent steps on the issue.
Chief Mukaila Akore, Baale of Akore community, said the hoodlums,in one of such attacks , invaded the community on Thursday ,beating residents and destroying properties.
“Members of our community were, on Thursday, beaten up by the hoodlums, who also destroyed six houses within the area.
“Both young people and elderly people were beaten to stupor and some of their belongings were damaged by the gang,” he told NAN
Also,Chief Aremu Tijani, Baale of Sari community, said that the hoodlums also invaded the community on Thursday,broke into homes and chased away residents .
Tijani said the attacks were connected to the land dispute between both Sari and Akore and Okiki-Ilu community ,appealing to the state government to intervene in the matter.
The community leader said the attacks had forced many residents to leave the community ,adding many could not observe the Ramadan fast owing to the problem.
“We were chased out of the community very early on Thursday, while we were preparing for Ramadan, and up till now, many families are yet to return to the community”,he told NAN.
Mrs, Elizabeth Bankole, who chased out of Sari together with his family members by the hoodlums , said life had been difficult since the invasion on Thursday.
“We urge the government to intervene and rescue the community members from these hoodlums “,he said.
Oba Johnson Adeleye,community leader of Okiki Olu community , who allegedly sponsored the hoodlums to attack the two communities ,described the allegation as false.
The traditional leader accused the community leaders of Sari and Akore communities of selling land in communities outside of their own.
“These people desperately sell land ,not belonging to them , to unsuspecting people.
“Imagine those people selling church properties, burial grounds and our sacred forest to unsuspecting people.
“All fall within my domain, and as traditional leader,I can’t tolerate anyone selling land beyond their domain or territory.
“You can come over there and see for yourself what they have done. The pieces of land they are selling do not belong to them,” Adeleye said. (NAN)
