OAU Accuses Ife Community Of Illegal Encroachment Of University Land

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State has accused Ife Community of encroaching on the school land and erecting houses without following due process.

Tribune reports that school sources noted that the development poses a security threat to both students and the institution’s communities.

It was also reported that the land encroachment has prevented the university from accessing three large hostels built by the government for the university.

It was gathered that the encroachment of OAU land started around 2013 when some alleged Ife community leaders sold the land to individuals.

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When contacted on the phone, the University’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abiodun Olarewaju, said the university occupied a land area of 11,961 hectares since 1961, until recently when some individuals felt the ceded land was too much for the school and began to encroach on it.

He said the encroachment has stopped the school from accessing some of the properties and facilities of the university.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said some hoodlums with dangerous weapons have been parading the encroaching part of the school.

The source noted that the situation has led to tension in the school community with the fear that the situation could escalate into violence if not handled properly.

The source said, “Recently, they brought bulldozers on the land to make road. We cannot approach them because they come with dangerous weapons such as guns.”

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the spokesperson to Ooni of Ife, Moses Olafare, while speaking with Tribune, said “I don’t know the land you’re talking about. The one I can remember was 2 years ago when there’s an issue of such and no one drags another on that but this one you’re telling me, I will find out and get back to you.”