Tension in Ilesa Community as House, Land Owners Accuse Onimo of Land Grabbing

By Oluwamayowa Ojo

Crisis and total breakdown of law and order is imminent in Imo tuntun, a new developing community in Ilesa, Ilesa-East Local Government area of Osun state over an alleged attempt by the newly installed Onimo of Imo, Chief Niyi Agunbiade to grab some parcels of land already acquired by the landlords.

CityMirrorNews gathered that tension is building at the Ona-Ara Village, Ifedapo and Igbo Oroke area of Imo tuntun as hoodlums have been persistently harassing landlords and house owners in the area on the order of Chief Agunbiade.

It was gathered that the traditional chieftain has allegedly directed the thugs to erect signposts on virtually every portion of land in the Imo tuntun community, with intent to allegedly grab the land from the owners.

The signposts with inscription: “This land belongs to the Onimo of Imo, Trespassers will be prosecuted.” were sighted by Osun Defender on Wednesday. There were two phone numbers, 08034417885,08066022300 on the signpost.

Some of the landlords in the area disclosed to CityMirrorNews that the thugs who always arm themselves with guns, cutlasses and charms have been chasing away labourers on sites, just as they have been threatening dwellers of various houses at the area.

The landlords stated that some of them had been in the area for over 30 years, and they bought the land from Chief Agunbiade’s two predecessors, Chief Daniel Daramola and Chief Abosede Ajakaye.

Finding showed that some of the land owners in the area have also employed thugs to match force with the hoodlums allegedly hired by Onimo.

It was also gathered that the traditional chieftain did not contact any of the land and house owners before erecting the signposts.

When CityMirrorNews called one of the phone numbers, the person that answered said: “Bring your land documents to baba Onimo. You must bring your receipts, land agreement and other documents used to acquire the land. Do not let it past Friday, if you fail to bring the documents before Friday, do not go to the land again. We have made announcement for over two weeks now on the land.”

CityMirrorNews requested for the Onimo’s phone, the person declined, saying that he was the one to attend to everybody that is affected.

When asked for his name, the person said “When you get to the Onimo’s palace, ask for Peter, I will attend to you.”

A landlord in the community who pleaded anonymity said: “I acquired this land 30 years ago. The land belongs to the Imo community, not to anybody. But I am surprised when some thugs came to erect a signpost on the land, telling me that the land belongs to Onimo.

“For every land that is bought in the community, the Onimo, the Risa of Imo, the Oloriomo of Imo and the Ejemo of Imo will have to sign the land agreement to authenticate the legality and validity of the transaction. This had been the normal practice in the community.

“One of my labourers at the site, known as Taiwo was threatened and harassed by the thugs. He was told not to go to the land again. When I personally went to the land, the thugs threatened to unleashed machete cuts on me. I had to plead for my life before they release me. This has been on for over two weeks.

“Some of the land owners in this area have engaged thugs to match force with the Onimo’s thugs. I am afraid this area will be a battle field, it just a matter of time. The security agencies in the state should please call Onimo to order so that he will not set the Imo community on fire.”