The Lagos State Government has advised legitimate land and property owners in the State to perfect all title documents pertaining to their lands and property, noting that this will help sanction land grabbers and ensure easy administration of justice in such situations.
The Coordinator of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Owolabi Arole, noted that undocumented and incomplete transactions, as well as untidy property documentation, make it difficult for any property forcefully taken to be retrieved through legal means.
“These issues, however, have not deterred us from carrying out our mandate and getting justice for rightful owners of the land from unscrupulous elements who forcibly encroach and dispossess real owners of their property”, Arole said.
He affirmed that the task force has continued to pursue its mandate to reduce the activities of persons or corporate entities, who intimidate and forcefully claim the property of other residents.
Arole noted that the task force has, since its inauguration, received over 2,300 petitions bordering on land grabbing and related issues, while it has treated and concluded 600 cases, made 35 arrests and is presently working on 1,500 petitions.
While urging citizens whose lands have been forcefully taken not to take laws into their hands, the Coordinator advised them to report such incidents to the Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers for remedial action.
Arole warned land grabbers to desist from their illicit trade, stressing that the State government will, through the task force, bring the full wrath of the law on anybody caught forcibly taking another person’s land.
