The Onosa royal family, Abatiwa Losewe in Odogbolu Local Government Area,Ogun State, has sent a Save-Our-Soul SOS petition to the Ogun State Governor, Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General of Ogun State, to swiftly come to their rescue over what they called ‘ killings, maiming, harassment, violence’ and attempted cover ups visited on them by alleged hoodlums and land-grabbers, popularly known as ‘omo oniles’, said to be championed by one Lamina Kamorudeen Oluwo a.k.a. Sir K although, all entreaties made by this reporter to hear him out were unsuccessful.
The family, said the killings were not unconnected with the initially contested land lapped to Lugben Araromi Abatiwa and Ita-Ala, up to Rusewe in Odogbolu Local Government area of Ogun State.
In a latest call , the Onosa family expressed frustration over its efforts to enforce the judgment concerning the landmass conceeded to it.
Investigations revealed that,the claimants of the Onosa Ruling House, had actually ,in a lingering land dispute suit, secured a judgment from the state’s High Court of Justice, Ijebu-Ode Division, way back on May 3, 2018.
In the suit, the court had declared that the disputed land of 271.03 hectares belonged to the Onosa ruling house.
The ruling house, in the suit had been represented by Otunba David Okelarin and six others, being claimants, against Morufu Karounwi Salau and 17 others, being defendants.
Meanwhile, in several petitions addressed to the Inspector General of Police and the office of the Attorney General of Ogun State, the Royal House accused some families who lost a legal battle concerning the expanse of land of spearheading the blood letting violence that have lately become the lots of the residents.
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It was this development that apparently led to the recent SOS, being championed by one Alhaji Saheed Mustapha, a member of the Onosa Ruling House.
According to him, “ever since we got judgement to take back that which truly belongs to us, one Kamoru Lamina a.k.a.Sir K has laid siege to the community.He puts armed men who daily terrorise us on our land. This notorious land grabber, has repeatedly promised to liquidate us if we dare near the property.
“Consequently, we went to court for the purpose of taking possession.That was on the 30th of November 2020, even though the legal battle started in 2012.
“It was the possession order that gave us the leeway to take the physical possession in the company of some police officers and baillif officials from the court.
“Our family, after a series of meetings,then decided to hire the services of Kamoru Anifowoshe a.k.a. Ofin, to help see to the sale of the property. It was Kamoru Anifowoshe that in turn sought the services of Gallat International Limited,a property Consulting firm. who bought 50 acres from our family and all the necessary documents were given in respect of the land to the purchaser. The money earmarked from the sales was used to defray court expenses with the agreement of family members.
“When the pressure from Lamina and his blood thirsting group was becoming unbearable to us, we decided to seek refuge under Ogun State Ministry of Justice, from where we were referred to Ogun State Land Grabber ,where cases of this nature are being resolved.
“It was at this juncture that Sir K. wrote a counter petition to Ogun State AG’s office.We were all invited to the office of the AG,s for the purpose of checking the documents at our individual’s possession, but Lamina and his cohorts would not honour such an open invitation. They simply backed down”.
Continuing, he said; Yes,I could recall vividly that it was Sesan Oriyomi Bello, who took the petition to office of the land grabbers,who in turn invited us to the allegedly disputed land.That was on 7th March 2023. That day, Kamoru Lamina and his men used guns and matches to chase everyone away from the land. That was the day a police officer identified as Olamide Animashaun, was shot by the blood hounds.
“On 10th March,2023, we noticed a convoy of police vehicles on the disputed land.
“Meanwhile,the unwholesome activities of the defeated family in the legal contest has taken a different dimension as those who bought land from the Royal Family are being name-called and killed in an apparent move to do a cover up.
In furtherance of the above,penultimate Friday, the ‘omo oniles’ allegedly led by Lamina a.k.a. Kamorudeen Lamina a.k.a.Sir K,” in a commando-like operation, once again, disrupted the social activity of our community by throwning it into confusion and serious apprehension. That singular action was not without casualties,” he said.
Speaking further, Mustapha said: “these invaders, are now parading the streets of the area, disturbing workers lawfully engaged at construction sites.
“We, the Onosa Royal Family is therefore, calling for thorough investigation into the matter, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book. What is at stake here is not related to cultism at all. It is purely land matter and the perpetrators know themselves.
Alhaji Mustapha added: “The uncontrolled actions of Sir K. are against the Property Protection Law 2016 of both Lagos and Ogun States. “It is a flagrant violation of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Those he has been placating as cultists are far from it. He is missing the point because his signature is everywhere. Kazeem Idiagbon is a known activist. Ditto to Elesude. Others whose names are mentioned in their inglorious publication are above fifty years of age. What would they be doing with cultism?
This is a land matter. It is not cult related.It is a diversion tactics to pull wool across the faces of people.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
