Ogun family cries out over alleged harassment by DSS

By Christopher Oji

The Odusanyin Royal Family in the Itusi Baba Ode area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area in Ogun State have cried out to Governor Dapo Abiodun to save them from alleged continuous harassment from the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Head of the family, Chief Taofiek Adisa, raised the alarm, while addressing journalists at the Obasanjo area of Onipanu in Ogun State, after another member of the family was rearrested by the DSS operatives. He said the harassment of the family members was not unconnected with the family’s large expanse of land, upon which several court judgements had been given in their favour.

The family head said: “My men and members of the family, innocent occupiers of our land are constantly hounded, illegally arrested, detained and trumped up charges hung on our necks, all in a bid to detain or scare us away from the land by members of the DSS.

“One of the buyers of the land and legal resident of Itusi land, Saheed Dada, was kidnapped from his house around 1am on Thursday, October 20, 2022. According to the account of his wife, the family suddenly heard a barge on their door. Their door was forced open and masked gunmen came in.

“The family has obtained three judgments in their favour over the land as follows; the Ogun State Customary Court, Ota Grade 1, in the year 2010, which was delivered by His Honour, Mrs M.O. Oguntola.

“On January 4, 2022, the family petitioned the Inspector -General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police Ogun State, citing attacks from the land grabbers whose identities were mentioned in the various petitions written to various authorities.

“Another petition was written on January 14, to the Senate President in Abuja, to save their lives which was constantly being threatened by the land grabbers. Another petition was forwarded on December 16, 2021 to the Director of Citizens Rights, Ministry of Justice, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, expressing the same unfortunate attacks on the family, its members, friends and poor land buyers.”

Chief Adisa, therefore, called on the governor, the Director General, DSS, Attorney General of the Federation and other well meaning Nigerians to intervene to save his life, family and dwellers of Itusi Baba Ode land from the evil machinations of the land grabbers.