Soldiers Allegedly Disrupt Land Clearing Exercise, Whisk Away Two Persons In Osun

Some soldiers were reported to have stormed the Kelebe area of Osogbo on Monday morning, causing tension in the community.

The soldiers, according to Daily Post, stormed a gathering of the Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association and allegedly whisked away one of the drivers of the caterpillar employed by the landowners and another member of the association.

Osun Defender reports that there have been issues between the community and the Nigerian Army over land.

The landowners were reported to have gathered to enforce the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife.

Justice A. O. Ayoola had on January 10, 2023, affirmed that the association members were the rightful owners of the land in dispute.

READ: Lawyer Allegedly Harassed By Osun Speaker’s Aides Vows To Get Justice

Speaking on what happened on Monday, the Chairman of the Association, Chief Amodu Akanbi, alleged that two of their members were abducted and taken to the Nigerian Army Engineering Construction Command, Ede, Osun State.

Amodu called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ademola Adeleke, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to intervene to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary tension.

He said, “After the judgment, we discovered that the Nigerian Army was selling plots on the property. We approached the court with the evidence and it was tendered as exhibits in contempt of court.

“We came here again to enforce the court judgment and the soldiers attacked us. Two of our members have been abducted and taken away. Phones have been seized and several of our properties confiscated.

“We want Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and make the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja see the reason why violence should be avoided. Osun State is known for peace and peace is what we want.”