The Onosa Royal family of Abatiwa Losewe in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, has sent a “Save-Our-Soul” petition to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali and the Attorney General of Ogun State to swiftly come to their rescue over what they called “killings, maiming, harassment, violence and attempted cover-ups” being regularly visited on them by hoodlums and land-grabbers, popularly known as ‘omo onile’, allegedly led by one Lamina Kamorudeen Oluwo a.k.a. Sir K.
The family claimed that the killings were not unconnected with the initially disputed expanse of land spanning Lugben Araromi, Abatiwa and Ita-Ala up to Rusewe in Odogbolu Local Government area of Ogun State.
Penultimate Friday, two persons, one of whom was a land agent to the Onosa Royal family, Kamorudeen Anifowose and one Akinseku Alibi, were allegedly killed by the land grabbers who invaded the communities at night.
Already, the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr Frank Mba has ordered an investigation into the killing of the two persons by the land grabbers.
The Onosa family in its latest SoS petition expressed frustration over its efforts to enforce the judgment concerning the landmass conceded to it.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that the claimants, the Onosa Ruling House, had actually in a lingering land dispute suit secured a judgment from the state’s High Court of Justice, Ijebu-Ode Division, since May 3, 2018.
Delivering judgement in the suit, the court had declared that the disputed land of about 271.03 hectares belonged to the Onosa Ruling House.
The ruling house, in the suit, had been represented by Otunba David Okelarin and six others, being claimants, against Morufu Karounwi Salau and 17 others, who were the defendants.
Meanwhile, in several petitions addressed to the Inspector General of Police and the Office of the Attorney General of Ogun State, the Royal House accused some families who lost a legal battle concerning the expanse of land of spearheading the violence and blood letting that have lately been visited on the residents of the area.
It was this development that apparently led to the recent SOS to Governor Abiodun and the Inspector General of Police being championed by one Alhaji Saheed Mustapha, a member of the Onosa Ruling House.
According to him, “Ever since we got judgement to take back that which truly belongs to us, one Kamoru Lamina, aka Sir K, has laid siege to the community. He puts armed men who daily terrorise us on our land.This notorious land grabber, has repeatedly promised to liquidate us if we dare near the property.
“Consequently, we went to court for the purpose of taking possession.That was on the 30th of November,2020, even though the legal battle started in 2012.
“It was the possession order that gave us the leeway to take the physical possession in the company of some police officers and bailiff officials from the court.
“Our family, after a series of meetings, then decided to hire the services of Kamoru Anifowoshe, a.k.a.Ofin, to help see to the sales of the property. It was Kamoru Anifowoshe that in turn sought the services of Gallat International Limited, a property Consulting firm, who bought 50 acres from our family and all the necessary documents were given in respect of the land to the purchaser. The money realised from the sales was used to defray court expenses with the agreement of family members.
“When the pressure from Lamina and his blood-thirsty group was becoming unbearable to us, we decided to seek refuge under Ogun State Ministry of Justice from where we were referred to Ogun State agency against land grabbing, where cases of this nature are being resolved.
“It was at this juncture that Sir K. wrote a counter petition to Ogun State Attorney General’s office. We were all invited to the office of the AG for the purpose of checking the documents at our individual possession, but Lamina and his cohorts would not honour such an open invitation.They simply backed down.”
Continuing, he said, “Yes, I could recall vividly that it was Sesan Oriyomi Bello, who took the petition to the office of the agency against land grabbing, who in turn invited us to the allegedly disputed land. That was on 7th March, 2023.That day, Kamoru Lamina and his men used guns and machetes to chase everyone away from the land. That was the day a police officer identified as Olamide Animashaun was shot by the blood hounds.
“On 10th March 2023,we noticed a convoy of police vehicles on the disputed land.
“Meanwhile,the unwholesome activities of the defeated family in the legal contest have taken a different dimension as those who bought land from the Royal Family are being maimed and killed in an apparent move to do a cover-up.
“In furtherance of the above, penultimate Friday, the ‘omo oniles’ allegedly led by Lamina, a.k.a. Kamorudeen Lamina, a.k.a. Sir K, in a commando-like operation, once again, disrupted the social activities of our community by throwing it into confusion and causing serious apprehension. That singular action was not without some casualties.”
Speaking further Mustapha said, “These invaders are now parading the streets of the area, disturbing workers lawfully engaged at construction sites.
“We, the Onosa Royal Family is therefore, calling for thorough investigation into the matter, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book .What is at stake here is not related to cultism at all. It is purely a land matter and the perpetrators know themselves.”
Alhaji Mustapha added, “The uncontrolled actions of Sir K are against the Property Protection Law 2016 of both Lagos and Ogun States. It is a flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Those he has been parading as cultists are far from it. He is missing the point because his signature is everywhere. Kazeem Idiagbon is a known activist. Residents are above 50 years of age. What would they be doing with cultism? This is a land matter, it is not cult related.”
Efforts made by our Correspondent to speak with Kamorudeen Lamina, aka Sir K, were unsuccessful.
