How armed soldiers unleash mayhem on landowners in Osogbo

There was tension in the Kelebe area of Osogbo on Monday morning when soldiers stormed a gathering of the Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association.

At the scene, one of the drivers of the caterpillar employed by the landowners and another member of the association was whisked away by the soldiers.

It should be recalled that the landowners had gathered to enforce the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife after Justice A. O. Ayoola had on January 10, 2023, affirmed that the association members were the rightful owners of the land in dispute.

Without an appeal from the NiNigeriangeria Army, the court also gave the association the go-ahead to possess the land through a warrant of possession.

While speaking, the Chairman of the Association, Chief Amodu Akanbi reacting to the development revealed that two of their members have been abducted and taken to the Nigerian Army Engineering Construction Command, Ede, Osun State.

Amodu called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ademola Adeleke and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to intervene to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary tension.

He said, “After the judgment, we discovered that the Nigerian Army was selling plots on the property. We approached the court with the evidence and it was tendered as exhibits in contempt of court.

“We came here again to enforce the court judgment and the soldiers attacked us. Two of our members have been abducted and taken away. Phones have been seized and several of our properties confiscated.

“We want Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and make the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja see the reason why violence should be avoided. Osun State is known for peace and peace is what we want.”

The landowners had in a protest early in the year asked the Osun State House of Assembly to intervene in the matter.