The once-peaceful community of Frontline Estate, Agbara, in Olorunda LCDA, Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, has been plunged into fear and uncertainty, as residents accuse land grabbers, allegedly backed by armed policemen, of laying siege to their properties despite possessing legitimate Federal Government land titles.
Over the past several months, families and property owners in the estate have reported a series of disturbing incidents, including the arrival of armed thugs and uniformed policemen who issue threats, paste possession notices, and order residents to vacate their legally acquired homes.
Residents raise alarm
Community leader, Mr. Taiwo Okulaja, told The Nation that the land was lawfully acquired from the Federal Government decades ago under the Sites and Services Scheme, with many allottees holding official Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).
“We are legitimate allottees of the Federal Government’s sites and services scheme in Agbara. Many of us bought our lands directly from the government and were duly issued allocation papers. Some of us even secured Certificates of Occupancy. Yet today, we are being harassed and threatened on our own land,” Okulaja lamented.
According to him, petitions have already been sent to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The community submitted documents to Mrs. Margaret Odejobi, a Director in the ministry, who referred them to the Federal Controller of Housing at the Federal Secretariat, Lagos.
“We dropped our documents in early August 2025, but we are yet to receive any concrete response,” Okulaja added.
A history of disputes
A retired civil servant, who facilitated the sales of the land, said the Frontline Estate land dispute is not new. He recalled that years ago, the Bankole and Atanbala families also laid claim to the land, sparking years of contention. Eventually, property owners entered into an out-of-court settlement, paying ₦250,000 each to resolve the matter.
But to their dismay, the crisis resurfaced six months ago.
“Over 100 armed policemen and thugs stormed our estate claiming to represent Agbara Estate Limited. They pasted possession notices, citing a court judgment against the Federal Government dating back to 2008,” recounted Mr. Uwa Dominic, another resident.
Fear, uncertainty, siege
Since then, homeowners say they have lived under constant fear, with alleged thugs patrolling the neighborhood daily. Families are worried about losing their investments and, in some cases, the only homes they have ever known.
Pastor Abayomi Ogungbade, another community leader, appealed for urgent government intervention.
“This is not just about land; it is about our lives, our families, and our future. If the government fails to act, innocent citizens who legally bought land from the same government will lose everything.”
Agbara’s Dual-State Complexity
One of the key sources of confusion is Agbara’s peculiar position as a community spanning both Lagos and Ogun States. However, several legal rulings have clarified jurisdictional boundaries.
A Composite Survey Plan (No. MISC 2847), drawn by the Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Joseph O. Agbenla, on September 25, 2013, identified 181.303 hectares of Agbara land as part of Lagos State. This position has been upheld in multiple rulings, including: Justice H. O. Oshodi’s ruling (2013) confirming Lagos State jurisdiction; Justice Yetunde A. Adesanya’s ruling (2014) at the Lagos High Court, Badagry Division; Justice A. C. Shokunbi’s ruling (2024) at the Ogun State High Court, which struck out a case for lack of jurisdiction and Justice Ogundare’s judgment (2023) reaffirming the Lagos survey plan.
Most recently, a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 20, 2024, by Justice Y. Bogoro (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2627/2023) directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and other authorities to recognise the Agbara-Lagos community’s rights under the Constitution and the Police Act.
Despite these rulings, Agbara Estate Limited, allegedly parading an Ogun State-issued Certificate of Occupancy, continues to lay claim to land located squarely within Lagos State, worsening tensions.
The ordeal of Frontline Estate residents highlights the growing menace of land grabbing in Lagos State, where legitimate landowners are increasingly threatened, despite possessing government-backed titles.
For now, the community waits anxiously, uncertain whether their homes will stand the test of law or fall under the weight of contested claims, armed intimidation, and delayed government response
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Residents argue that the issue can be resolved administratively, citing similar interventions in Magodo and Oko-Afo, where government veto power ended land disputes.
They warn that the menace of land grabbing in Lagos is worsening, especially when “omo onile” cartels connive with corrupt officials to secure questionable judgments.
For now, Frontline Estate residents wait anxiously, calling on the Federal Government to defend its own allocations and prevent them from losing everything they have worked for.
Agbara Estate Limited Responds
Speaking with The Nation, an official of Agbara Estate Limited, Mr. Adeniya Olalekan, insisted that the land belongs to them.
“Agbara Estate acquired the land during the Mid-Western era, and it was revalidated when Ogun State was created. The Federal Government was only allowed to use the land temporarily during road construction. The Ministry of Works has no constitutional authority to issue C of Os,” he argued.
He dismissed residents’ claims of encroachment, adding: “Agbara Estate is not a land-grabbing entity. We are simply reclaiming our property. A Supreme Court judgment already supports our ownership.”
When asked about possible out-of-court settlement, Olalekan maintained that Agbara Estate would “take possession” of its land.
The Bigger Picture
The Frontline Estate saga reflects a wider problem in Lagos and Ogun States: the menace of land grabbing. Experts say weak inter-agency coordination and conflicting court judgments leave genuine buyers vulnerable.
As families wait anxiously, the question remains: will government step in like in the Magodo land dispute or leave residents to fight powerful private interests on their own?
