By Esther Onyegbula

Twenty four months after, peace is yet to return to Olugbusi/Agufoye Asoga community which has almost been paralysed by violence after land grabbers allegedly unleashed terror there, forcing residents to flee for their dear lives. The violence reached a tragic climax last weekend when two persons were allegedly shot by yet to be identified hoodlums.

Indeed, during a recent visit to the area, Vanguard Metro, VM, was greeted by abandoned construction sites overgrown with bushes and houses demolished at the peak of the crisis. The remains of Lagos State Government Agricultural Poverty Alleviation project and the Olugbusi/ Agufoye Asoga palace were also overgrown with bushes.

Peaceful community

VM gathered that the once peaceful community became a war zone after the original dwellers were allegedly chased out by land grabbers.

During the crisis that ravaged the community for over two years, several lives were lost, properties destroyed and governmental projects abandoned. One of such projects was the Lagos State Government Agricultural Poverty alleviation project which was established in 2011 to develop, empower as well as alleviate the plight of dwellers in the area.

Lands allocated for community projects like the maternal health centre and police post were not spared in the crisis as they were reportedly hijacked and sold by intruders.

Apart from the inhabitants, those who bought lands were the most affected by the crisis as they were consistently extorted and threatened by the undesirable elements.

Narrating the genesis of the crisis to VM, the traditional ruler of Olugbusi community in Ikorodu, Olotu Abolaji Omolouju Mukala, said: “Several years ago, one of our father’s wives brought her younger sister to live with her. She got married to a man from a neighbouring community. We allowed her children farm on our land even though they had theirs in their father’s village.

“Trouble started when we noticed that they wanted to lay claim to our lands. We went to court in 1946 and a verdict was issued and they were told not to farm in our lands or do anything on them because they are our in-laws and not our father’s children. But rather than stick to the court verdict, they employed various fetish and illegal methods to attack us .

“At the peak of the crisis these people attacked us, employing the services of thugs and some security operatives to intimidate, arrest community leaders and cause trouble in the land.

“In a bid to restore peaceful co-existence within the community, we wrote several petitions to the Lagos State Police Command but JimohTijani aka Babaoloke seem to be above the law when it comes to security in the State. The serenity we are presently experiencing is a follow-up of the recent petition sent to the Force Headquarters Abuja which arrested some of those fomenting trouble in the community. Although they have been granted bail, investigation is still on-going.

“We have asked those who abandoned their land and construction site two years back because of the terror he unleashed on them to come back and start developing the land. We have assured them that any demolition on their properties or estate will be met with appropriate legal actions. We have informed relevant agencies”.

Recounting his bitter experience to VM, one Adesope Adeyinka, said: “I was among the hundreds of persons who bought a piece of land from the Olugbosi family before the crisis with the intention of developing it into a residential abode. I bought a plot of land in the year 2012 for N400, 000. When I purchased the land, several other people who bought had started developing their estates.

“However, trouble started immediately I laid the foundation of the building. Representatives of a rival family led by one JimohTijani chased the family who sold the land to us out of the community. He kept using hired thugs to intimidate and harass me. Initially he asked me to pay N300, 000; later he said I should pay N500, 000 which I refused. Each time I brought labourers to site,Babaoloke and his gang would come and disrupt the work.  Most times to enable the building project continue I will be forced to pay between N20, 000 and N30, 000.  I had to abandon the project when the extortion became unbearable.”

Narrating his own experience, Bode Olukoya said: “I bought the piece of land for N300, 000 and I was given the Olugbusi family receipt. Later trouble erupted when the other family head Babaoloke and his people attacked us with native charms; they asked me to pay another N300, 000. They went ahead and destroyed part of my building which was under construction because I refused to pay N300,000.”

Two plots of land

Lamenting, one Yusuf Ajibola, said: “I bought two plots of land for N800, 000 for my brother who lives overseas from the Omolouju family. I was forced to pay ratification twice by the Jimoh Tijani. I paid N750, 000 to them yet they refused us to develop the plot of land with their incessant attacks.”

Mr Chibuzor Owoh, a retired soldier, told VM thus: “In 2013, my wife and I bought two plots of land from the Olugbusi family; we paid N50, 000 for foundation. We also bought blocks on credit to enable us start the construction as well as continue the work on site. That was when trouble started. I had to abandon the land to save my life.

In his defence, Jimoh Tijani aka Bakaoloke said: “I was born and brought up in this community; we don’t know Omolouju and we do not recognise him as part of our family. Several years back he wrote a letter to us that he wants to be part of the family which we refused because he is not part of the family. He and co-conspirators have been causing trouble in the community. And we will do all that we can to reclaim our inheritance”.

Calling on the Lagos State government and relevant agencies to interfere, one Baba Beji, a renowned bricklayer in the community, said: “We want government to intervene in this issue by calling the parties involved together; let them sign a treaty because the war is affecting everyone. We want the government to intervene to ensure there is peace in the community. We want lasting measures to the crisis. The whole problem is worrisome, as we still work and live in fear of the unknown.”