The Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Taskforce has arrested five alleged armed land grabbers said to have terrorized property owners in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
The suspects were arrested at the weekend during an operation to dislodge the allegedly notorious syndicate said to have caused mayhem and disrupted developmental activities within Sango-Tedo, Lakowe, Abijo and other communities in Ibeju-Lekki.
Task Force Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, in a statement by spokesman, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the Omo-Onile, as they are known, have been appealed to and warned several times to desist from carrying out their inhumane acts but they failed to listen.
“Residents and victims of these land grabbers have laid a series of complaints to the Taskforce which made us carry out our own investigation leading to warnings being issued to them.
“It is quite unfortunate that they feel untouchable and daring but with these actions carried out by us they will learn to obey the laws of the State. There is no room for land grabbers in Lagos” he stated.
Jejeloye, Abdulraheem said, disclosed that the land grabbers opened fire on his men during the operation to discourage them but were resisted by the operatives who were determined to correct the wrongs carried out by the criminals.
“They will be made to face the full wrath of the law and we will ensure that anyone found engaging in such a nefarious practice anywhere in the state is arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Abdulraheem said Jejeloye urged residents to resist the urge to pay land grabbers for properties which were legitimately purchased.
He said they should rather report incidents or activities by the land grabbers to the agency for urgent action.
The five suspects have been charged to court and remanded in Badagry correctional centre, he added. (Nation)