By Christopher Oji
The Ijegun Egba/Ibasa, a riverine Community in Ori Ade Local Government Area of Lagos has called on the State Government and the Police to save them from the hands of hoodlums who constantly invade the community.
Over 200 armed hoodlums had some days ago, invaded the town and demolished the community shrine .
The residents, including a 120-year-old woman, Ma Alaba Molik, stated that apart from the constant use of military men and armed hoodlums to attack the community, some residents of the town have been killed and others incarcerated in the bid to forcefully take over their town.
The residents, however, blamed the people of the neighbouring for the alleged constant attacks on them.
One of the leaders of the community, Prince Raji Teslim, told our Correspondent that “they are trying to forcefully take over our lands . They are strangers that were accomodated by our forefathers, but they have forgotten that the community was harbouring them out of love.
“ Just on Friday, over 2000 armed hoodlums invaded our community and demolished our 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 the prison for speaking against the plan to take over our ancestral home.
“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 dangers .. Our people cannot go to the market or the jetty without being attacked by strangers on our land .
“They have forced us to keep quiet over the harassment from the police, soldiers, naval officers and armed hoodlums, who have been attacking our people in the past, but we have decided to speak out. A former councilor 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. I am appealing with the Lagos State Governor, State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Lagos State, and the Lagos State police command to save us from the hands of the armed hoodlums who have been attacking 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 the hoodlums who want to grab our land by force .
Alaba Moliki , 120, said . “ I am from Ibasa but my husband is from Ijegun Egba .My husband people are the owner 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 .”
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 s family gave the land to which the market was built during the Better Life for Rural Women Programme .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 Command, Onikan, Lagos, Muhammed Ali has scheduled a meeting between the two communities for Tomorrow .