The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has directed a full-scale investigation into allegations of land grabbing and violence levelled against the Ojora, Oluwa families of Lagos State.

Some aggrieved residents of the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos petitioned the Senate to stop the alleged land grabbing activities of the Ojora and Oluwa families in their area.

The people, under the aegis of the Concerned and Agitated Group of Ajeromi Ifelodun, stated this in a petition dated August 23, 2021, and signed by the Secretary, Prince Omoyimi.

It was addressed to the President of the Senate, who referred it to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for necessary legislative action.

Lawan asked the panel, chaired by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, to submit the report of its investigation within four weeks.

The petition was titled, ‘Looming Crisis: Immediate attention for calling to order, the unlawful misconduct of the Ojora/Oluwa family and their hired thugs dislodging and grabbing peoples’ properties.”

Part of the statement read, “We, the Concerned and Agitated Group of Ajeromi Ifelodun is interested in campaigning and defending the democratic right of the oppressed against police brutality, abuse of  freedom to life, association, and right to own properties.

“We call on the immediate attention of the Lagos State authorities to intervene in the recent development erupting tension among its habitants.

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“This development is linked to the unlawful misconduct of the Ojora/Oluwa families and their hired thugs going to grab peoples’ home/houses by employing terroristic methods that is uncivil, forcing hundreds of peoples to leave their homes.

“They have even gone to the extent of using self-help, that is, thugs, military personnel with weapons to threaten the victims.

“That if they fail to leave their homes they will use all means necessary to dislodge and grab their homes/houses they built through hard labour.

“The Ojora/Oluwa families are taking possession of the said properties by rendering the inhabitants homeless.

“The houses were built in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and even 90s.

“According to our records, the majority of the houses they are grabbing have all the legal documents as tenant and property owners, and they are paying all the necessary dues, including state and local government levies.

“Among these, we found it more uncivil and a threat to human life that the Ojora/Oluwa families and their hired thugs have gone to the extent of removing, the roofs of some of the houses to show their authority.”