The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Bayo Lawal, has said land grabbing would no longer be tolerated, as offenders would face up to 15 years jail term.
Lawal, a lawyer, made this known while inaugurating a Task Force Unit of the real properties law of Oyo State at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan.
He said those who aided and abetted land grabbers would also not go scot-free, adding that the state was determined to stamp out land grabbing.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the acting governor as saying that the administration prioritised peace, order and security of lives and property, noting that it would leave no stone unturned in its determination to sustain peace and security.
Lawal said the law would protect the rights of property owners, while stopping the nefarious activities of land merchants, who he said, wilfully and violently seized people’s land.
He admonished those bent on encroaching on other people’s property, most times by using violence, threats or imaginary connection with the powers that be or the use of force to demand fees from real property owners to desist, as according to him, “the law is here to catch up with them.”
He urged the Task Force members to end the activities of land grabbers.