Lauretta Fagbohun, Ogun

Araromi Ajegunle Community in Sagamu area of Ogun state has called on Governor Dapo Abiodun and the state House of Assembly to save them from alleged forceful take over of their lands, by a Chinese company before it degenerates into full crisis.

The agitated residents of the area who cried out in a protest said "the Chinese guarded by armed military men have invaded their community and forcefully taken over their lands", describing the act as illegal. 

They chanted solidarity songs and marched to the construction site of the Chinese company carrying placards with various inscriptions, such as "Ogun state government, please save us from foreign invaders in disguise of investors", "Stop encroaching on our community land. Respect court order", "We say no to illegal activities of ministry of lands", We Ajegule Araromi youth association are tired of land grabbers, Mr. Governor act very fast" and "Enough is Enough! Mr. Governor act now" among others.

They alleged that, the immediate past administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2013, under the guise of using the land to build a trailer park, acquired their land, but instead sold it to the Chinese company without giving them any compensation.

The community leader, Chief Amos Adesanya who spoke on behalf of the protesters alleged that, no fewer than 500 structures have been demolished by the Chinese and the land taken over without compensation paid to the owners.

Adesanya lamented the continued silence of the government on the issue following the claim by the Chinese that they have paid an undisclosed amount of money to the government to acquire over 500 hectares of their lands.

He said, both the government and the Chinese company had continued to violate court orders restraining them from further invading their lands.

Adesanya said, "We just woke up one day and saw the Chinese guarded by military men taking possession of our land, grabbing our land, demolishing our structures and erecting their own.

"We are here to agitate for our right, how can some people just take over our land without notice and we didn't sell our land to them.

"We want the government to please help us, they have taken more than half of our community lands. We want the Ogun state and Federal governments to please help us because we have no where else to go now.

"We are seeing strangers everyday taking over our land, our inheritance. We were not given any form of compensation, this is simply a forceful take over of our lands. We have not been paid. Different people have properties here that have been demolished and taken over with no kobo paid to them as compensation.

"So far, they have demolished more than 500 buildings, both completed and those still under construction.

We are talking about more than 500 hectares of land. Our appeal to government is to intervene and stop this inhumane treatment being meted to us".

One of the victims, Mrs. Mopelola Aliu whose house was built on three plots of land and was allegedly demolished with the land taken over said, "We need help because this suffering that these Chinese are putting us through is too much. This has been going on since 2013.

"I have three plots of land here and there is a building on it, but they came four weeks ago to demolish my building and forcefully take over my land.

"This community has been existing for the past 100 years. What have we done to the government to deserve this? What is our offense? Let them tell us our offense, if we know our offense, we will beg the government. They should just leave us alone. 

"We want peace, we don't want to engage the Chinese in violence and that is why we are appealing to this government to intervene."

Addressing the protesters, a Chinese who simply identified himself as Felix said, the company was willing to dialogue with representatives of the community. He advised them to take their case to the State Bureau of Lands and Survey.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report attempts are being made to reach out to Senator Ibikunle Amosun who was the former Governor in the State, but now representing Ogun Central at the National Assembly.