LAGOS COMMUNITY PROTESTS LAND ENCROACHMENT, CHALLENGES SAND DREDGERS

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Residents of the Abomiti Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, have protested against illegal sand mining on their land.

Abomiti, resettled by the Lagos State Government after its land was taken for the Lekki Free Trade Zone, was allocated 239 hectares at Ilamija in 2019.

The community received a certificate of occupancy in 2021 to affirm their claim.

However, residents have faced ongoing issues with land speculators and thugs encroaching on their property. Recently, sand dredgers renewed their encroachment, prompting community leaders, including traditional chiefs, to protest on Friday, condemning the illegal activities.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “Stop illegal mining on our C-of-O land!” “Our land! Our rights!,” “Lagos govt, the C-of-O land given to us has been hijacked by illegal miners,” “Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources come to our aid,” “With C-of-O, we say no! Respect the law, respect our land,” “Illegal miners stay off our land,” “Our land is not for looting, backed by C-of-O.”

Speaking at the demonstration, the Chairman of the Abomiti Zone, Parcel B, Ayodele Yaya, said the land was a government-approved resettlement granted to the community following the acquisition of their ancestral land for public use.

Yaya alleged that unknown individuals were excavating and digging the land without approval.

He said, “This land was given to us as resettlement after the government took our ancestral land for the free zone. It comes with a Certificate of Occupancy issued under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“These are illegal and unscrupulous elements carrying out illicit activities on our land, and we don’t even know who they are. How can we compromise on something that threatens to destroy us and our future?”

Yaya urged the Lagos State Government to intervene, adding that the encroachment should be stopped.

Speaking on the matter, the Baale of Imogo Kekere, Bola Olanihun, said illegal mining had persisted despite numerous efforts by the community to address the issue through peaceful means.

He said, “We have written several letters to the state government, but we have yet to receive a response. These activities continue, and they are threatening our livelihood and heritage.”

The Baale of Aba Oyinbo community, Omoyemi Ayeola, said the activity of scooping up sand in their land had been going on for several years, and every attempt to stop it all had proved abortive.

Omoyemi said, “We are asking for an end to this. Our land has been raped. They have proved stubborn to end these criminal activities on our land. We beg the stakeholders and whosoever is in authority of this illegal mining to put a stop to it before things turn violent.”

Baale Arala-Afowotera, Seriki Mutiu, said the illegal mining was destroying their land and making building difficult.

Mutiu alleged that some street urchins were threatening people with weapons.

He said, “More than 100 trucks have come to illegally pack sand from our land, and it’s dangerous for us because building would be difficult. We did not permit them, and we have no idea who did. We are calling on the state government to intervene because they allocated the land to us.”

Our correspondent witnessed a police van blocking the community entrance to prevent at least 12 trucks from leaving with excavated sand.

Other trucks were stationed nearby, ready to be loaded with more sand.

The truck keys were confiscated as protesters opposed the act, and the matter was subsequently brought to a local police station.

A senior Lagos State Government official, speaking anonymously, stated that illegal mining is a significant problem in the state.

He said, “If you are talking about illegal mining, it’s a very serious matter; whereas illegal mining has implications for the environment, it has implications for the economy and also has implications for the well-being of the people.”

He noted that he would have to find out whether any of his colleagues knew about the letter said to have been written by the community.