Oyo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, charged the state government to urgently station the state’s Operation Burst at Odo-Oba, which is the boundary between Oyo and Osun states along Iwo town in Osun State to prevent people who lay siege on Iwo land from disturbing the peace and tranquility of Ogburo people in Oyo State.
The House made the call in a motion jointly sponsored by the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, and others.
The motion is titled: ”Need For Urgent Intervention to Address Boundary Disputes and Land Ownership Crises Between Ogburo Land, Lagelu Local Council (Oyo State), Iwo Land Grabbers (Osun State), Aborerin Quarters of Ibarapa East Local Council (Oyo State) and Egba People (Ogun State).”
The Assembly, which noted that land disputes pervasively underpinned various civil violence and wars across the globe, said: ”As of today, there are ongoing clashes between Ogburo, Iwo people, Aborerin and Egba people of Oyo, Osun and Ogun states respectively.
“Ogburoland has been besieged by land grabbers from Iwo. These grabbers are not only terrorising the people; they are also dispossessing them of their historical lands.”
“Of utmost concern is the appointed Ologburo of Ogburoland by the Oyo State Government and by extension, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. Oba Olajide Oyedepo Oyebamiji has been forced to flee Ogburoland due to threat to his life.
“The king Of Ogburoland now lives in exile. This is an affront to the dignity of the Ogburo people, their fundamental rights, and by extension, the authority of Oyo State Government.”
In a related development, the house also directed its Standing Committee on Security and Strategy to investigate the Banditry attacks on Kujifi, Kosobo, Ajirowo villages and some hamlets near Old Oyo National Park Area of Sepeteri in Oyo State.
The House gave the directive while reacting to the Matter of Urgent Public Importance moved by Hon. Rilwan Saminu and Hon. Lukman Jimoh representing Atisbo/ Saki East and Oorelope State constituencies respectively.
Presenting the matter at the floor of the House, Hon. Saminu revealed that banditry and harder attacks have become a worrisome Security threat in many parts of the State which has led to the death of innocent persons while many are left with various degrees of injuries.
Narrating the recent attacks on some villages by some unknown gunmen, he described the act as evil , callous and disheartening which calls for urgent attention of all stakeholders, especially the security agencies across the State.
He said “Some days ago, there was a sudden invasion of Kujifi, Kosobo, Ajirowo by some unknown gunmen. These evil men did not only terrorise people in the area, they killed an innocent man in Kujifi Village, murdered one of the vigilantes in cold blood on the 6th November 2023, and kidnapped two of the local farmers on 11th November, 2023.”
” The occupants of the affected villages and hamlets had since then abandoned their homes in an attempt to save themselves from being kidnapped or killed by these callous men of the underworld. It is also gathered that the gunmen were advancing day by day towards Sepeteri town as they were seen by some farmers and hunters along the road to Sepeteri town from the Old Oyo National Park some days ago” He added.
The House has however urged the Executive Arm of Government, through the Oyo State Security Network “Amotekun ” to mobilize security agents to Sepeteri and its environs in order to provide adequate security for the people and allay their fear.
The resolve stated further that the State Commissioner of Police should collaborate with the Oyo State security outfits Amotekun, and the local Hunters in order to comb all the hideouts of gunmen terorising the communities and make possible arrests and Prosecution.
