Police tighten security around Saraki’s revoked land

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Kwara State Police Command on Tuesday deployed a detachment of policemen around the precincts of the disputed land between the Kwara State Government and family of the late godfather of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had announced plans to construct a new secretariat on the land allegedly obtained by the late Saraki without any documentation.

Former senate president and son of the late politician, Bukola Saraki, had denied the state government’s claim.
Residents of Ilofa, GRA, Ilorin, where the land is located feared that yesterday’s deployment of policemen in the area was preparatory to a possible demolition of the structures erected on the land.

Since the revocation order was issued on Friday last week, Abdulrazaq and Saraki had engaged in accusations and counter-accusations over the land, which the state government said belonged to the Civil Service Clinic, but which Saraki claimed as that of his late father.

Read Also: Revocation of land: Abdulrasaq has crossed the line, says Saraki

It was gathered that heavy security presence was noticed around the area as early as 6:00 am yesterday.
It was further gathered that the presence of the armed policemen in the area might be to prevent the aged women, who usually throng the “charity home” at the end of every month to receive monetary gifts from the Saraki family from gaining entrance into the facility.

When contacted, the spokesman for the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said deployment of the security men to the area was for security purpose.

“It is important to forestall breakdown of law and order in the state, following perceived media war trailing the issue and various reactions from politicians on the matter,” he said.