The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the State Government to engage the Federal Government and the Nigerian military hierarchy over the lingering land dispute between Apunren Ijebu communities and officers of the Nigerian Army from Sappers Barracks, Ilese.
The resolution followed the presentation of a report by the Committee of the Whole House, presented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, at the Assembly Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Lawmakers called for intergovernmental intervention, with a recommendation that the military be provided with an alternative shooting range, in view of recent developments and alleged encroachment on community lands within Apunren Ijebu and adjoining areas.
According to the report, the land dispute between the Nigerian Army and the communities of Apunren Ijebu and Ijebu Mushin, both in Ijebu East Local Government Area, has persisted for about five decades. The spokesperson of the affected communities, Major General Odunsi Samson, retired, the Jagunmolu of Ijebu Imusin, traced the origin of the dispute to a 1977 military decree for the establishment of barracks across several states.
He explained that Apunren Ijebu and Ijebu Mushin were among the areas identified at the time, adding that the affected land cuts across sixteen communities that have existed peacefully for over six hundred years, with established schools, churches, mosques, hospitals, markets and other social institutions.
The report noted that the dispute worsened due to the failure to properly document and gazette an earlier decision that reduced the land allocated to the military from 1,820 acres to one tenth of that size. It added that officers of the Nigerian Army had allegedly commenced extensive occupation of host communities, with reports of demolition of houses, encroachment on farmlands and destruction of cultural, religious and historical sites.
Lawmakers also observed fresh land markings for further demolition, while boundary pillars demarcating the originally acquired military land were still visible in some locations.
The Assembly therefore urged the State Government to engage senior military authorities to review earlier decisions reached by investigative panels and to put measures in place to prevent further encroachment into the affected communities.
Following the passage of the resolution, which was moved by the Deputy Speaker and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to forward the report and its recommendations to the Governor, relevant Federal Ministries, the leadership of the National Assembly and heads of security formations, particularly the Nigerian Army, for necessary action.
