Suspected Land Grabbers and Armed Miscreants Attack Property Owners in Isheri-Oke Area of Lagos, Nigeria

On Tuesday morning, suspected land grabbers and armed miscreants stormed the Isheri-Oke area of Lagos State, attacking property owners and causing panic. As a result, banks and some business enterprises were hurriedly shut down in fear.

Residents in the area launched a resistance against the invaders to prevent them from advancing into Magodo Phase 1 for possession. This invasion followed earlier warnings and pasting of some orders on walls of residential and commercial buildings, including banks, to enforce the claim order in other areas, comprising of Olowoira and Magodo.

The area was littered with bonfires on the roads, which prevented free vehicular and human movements and restricted residents from going to work or coming in. Normalcy was restored in the afternoon, but two banks operating in the area remained shut, while a few businesses opened to customers.

According to a resident named Tokunbo, who spoke on the development, residents were alarmed by the sudden invasion. The Baale of Isheri-Oke, Chief Albert Bankole, revealed that some youths and elders had informed him on Monday night that a person called Jamiu Odunsi, who was not resident in the area and wanted to be a traditional ruler, was allegedly planning an attack.

The elders immediately went to the Police station at Isheri to report, but they couldn’t see the DPO. By 6.30 am to 7.30 am the next day, they still couldn’t see the DPO. It was then they heard that the thugs had started attacking some areas with some police and amour tanks; this showed they came for war.

“Our people came out and resisted them so they could not enter further. It was later when people were burning tyres on the roads and no one could move in or out that the DPO came out and addressed them before the thugs left,” the Baale said.

When our correspondent visited GTBank and Polaris Bank in the area, customers were disappointed to see the banks shut down due to the invasion. An official of GTBank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they were just opening the bank to commence operations when some people came with police officials and claimed they had a court order to take over the place. They sent out all their staff and customers and had to close the bank.

Similarly, the Polaris Bank in the area was affected as customers were seen shut out due to closure.

The Area Commander, Ogudu Ojota, Sanusi Mohammad, addressed the residents at the Baale’s Palace and assured them of their protection. As at the time of filing this report, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, was yet to respond to Vanguard’s call or the Short Message Service, SMS.

However, the Mayoreses of Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Mrs Sami Badadada, assured the residents that the State Government was aware of the issue and giving it necessary attention.

This incident is reminiscent of a similar one that occurred in Magodo Phase II in December last year when suspected land grabbers invaded the area. It highlights the need for better security measures and stronger government interventions to prevent such occurrences and protect the lives and properties of citizens.