Indigenes of Ijegun Egba/Ibasa, a riverine community in the Ori Ade Local Government area of Lagos State, have called on the Lagos State government and the police to save them from constant attacks on their community.
Over two hundred armed hoodlums invaded the Lagos town and demolished the community shrine. The residents, including a 120-year-old woman, Alaba Molik, stated that besides the constant use of military personnel and armed hoodlums to attack them, some residents of the town have been killed, and others incarcerated in an attempt to forcefully take over their town.
The residents, however, blamed the people of neighbouring Ibasa Island for the constant attacks on them.
One of the leaders of the community, Prince Raji Teslim, while speaking with newsmen over the weekend, said, “They are trying to forcefully take over our lands. They are strangers that were accommodated by our forefathers.”
He stated, “Just on Friday, the people of Ibasa led over two hundred armed hoodlums to our community to demolish the community shrine.”
“Three years ago, they came with thugs and attacked us. They killed many of our people. Many of our sons are still being kept in prison for speaking against the plan to take over our ancestral home.”
The community leader also stated that “They bring soldiers, naval personnel, and hoodlums to attack our people. The government should come to our aid. The river has demarcated Ijegun Egba from Ibasa. Why are they coming here to attack us?”
Abideen Paramole, the family head of Aina Jagun Descendants Family of Ijegun Egba, stated that “Our lives are in serious danger. Our people cannot go to the market or the jetty without being attacked by strangers on our land.”
He added that “They have been keeping us quiet with harassment from the police, soldiers, naval officers, and armed hoodlums who have been attacking our people in the past.”
A former councillor in Ori Ade Local Government, Prince Ayinde Saeed, also said, “They only see our people as helpless and want to use that advantage to take over our ancestral land.”
“The matter of ownership of the land mass that comprises Ijegun Egba/Ibasa has been decided up to the Appeal Court in favour of the Aina Jagun Family, who are the original settlers of Ijegun Egba/Ibasa community.”
He pleaded, “I am appealing to the Lagos State Governor, the State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Lagos State, and the police to save us.”
“They should investigate the sufferings of our people on their father’s land. They should not allow our family to go into extinction from the activities of these land grabbers.”
One hundred and twenty-year-old Alaba Moliki said, “I am from Ibasa, but my husband is from Ijegun Egba. My husband’s people are the owners of this community.”
“I ran away from my people in Ibasa to my husband’s people in Ijegun Egba when they killed my son over this land issue. My grandson is still in prison. They lied against him to the police.”
The widow of the former monarch of the town, Olori Mosebolatan Liadi Waheed, also stated that “I have been living in this town since 1980. My husband’s family gave the land on which the market was built during the Better Life for Rural Women Program.”
She added, “The river has divided Ibasa and Ijegun Egba. There is a clear border between the two towns.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Muhammed Ari, has scheduled a meeting between the two communities for Tuesday.
