By Bose Adelaja

A six-man land grabbing syndicate, popularly called Ajagungbale has been arrested by Lagos State Task Force for illegally destroying and stealing properties worth over three million Naira in Makoko area of the state.

Lagos CP, Fatai Owoseni

Parading the leader of the gang, Mr. Olalekan Olaiya, and his team, Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, SP Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi, said they swung into action based on several petitions they received on their illegal activities from members of the public.

Egbeyemi noted that the gang members have been terrorising property and land owners in Makoko to re-validate or re-purchase their lands with prices ranging between N10 million to N50 million on the pretext that the land belong to their forefathers, who leased them out in 1950s.

He said operatives of the task force arrested Olalekan Olaiya, Mojeed Olaiya, Olusegun Olaiya, Ibrahim Bada, Abiodun Olaewe and Benson Filate, while they were wilfully and unlawfully removing the corrugated iron sheet of the roof of the property of Mrs Basirat Kosoko at 22, Olaiya Street, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos.

He said they have been charged to Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja Magisterial District, Ogba, under Magistrate Odusanya of Court 15.

Sergeant Anisere Taiwo (IPO) and Mr. Femi Alabi (prosecutor) confirmed that they all pleaded not guilty and were granted N250,000 bail with two sureties in like sum, and June 26 fixed for continuation of the case.

Meanwhile, the suspects claimed they never knew it was illegal to remove roofing sheets, damage doors and windows, while demanding money from owners.

Olaiya said they never inherited any legal document from their fore-fathers to back up their claims and “justice should be tempered with mercy.”