2 Confirmed Dead As Land Grabbers Popularly Known As ‘Omoniles’ Lay Siege On Ibadan Estate

The peaceful environment of Ire-Akari Estate at Soka, Ibadan in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State was disrupted weekend by hoodlums, who stormed the area as about 7,000 residents fled their homes.

The hoodlums, who the residents described as land grabbers, aka ‘Omoniles,’ were said to have vandalized property worth millions of Naira.

Vanguard gathered that about two months ago, the families of Chief Emmanuel Ashamu, Chief Femi Majekodumi, Oyenike Ogunsola and the late Ganiyu Bello secured a Supreme Court judgment ceding part of the 30-year old estate to them, which affected about 250 houses in the estate. But the landlords, who opted for an amicable settlement, declared that over 85 per cent of the affected property was sold to them by families that secured the judgment. Many homeowners, including the National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Waheed Odusile, and Vice Chancellor of Technical University (U-Tech), Prof Ayobami Salami, were affected by the destruction.

However, a director in Ibarapa East Local Government Town Planning Department, Mr. Funsho Adeniran (54), and Mrs. Grace Adefunke Ojo (74) were said to have collapsed and died after their buildings were padlocked and the occupants sacked. The hoodlums, who were said to be acting on the orders of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Majekodumi, as well as Chief Ashamu, demolished several homes and locked up houses belonging to residents.