‘Entirely false, malicious’ — army denies land-grab allegation by Osun community

The Nigerian army has denied the land-grab allegation from Ifon-Osun, an Osun state community.

Onyema Nwachukwu, the army’s public relations director, said in a statement that the allegation is an attempt to drag the name of the institution in the mud. 

THE ALLEGATION

During a protest and press conference on Tuesday, Babatunde Oyetunji, the Eesa of Ifon-Osun, accused the army of planning to hijack their community’s parcels of land in connivance with the Ilobu community.

Ifon and Ilobu have been waging wars against each other for years over land disputes.

Oyetunji said Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief of army staff, who is an indigene of the Ilobu community, was planning to use his position to forcefully take over the Ifon land for the construction of an intervention project. 

‘NOT YET A PROPOSAL, JUST AN IDEA’

While absolving itself of the allegation, the army said the intervention project — a medical centre — was the concept of a retired officer.

It said the proposal is yet to be “formally forwarded to the chief of army staff for approval”.

In the statement, Nwachukwu said the army has no idea of any land owner.

“It is only when and if the request of the retired senior officer is forwarded to the Chief of Army Staff and is approved, that the Army can send a team to carry out due diligence on the project site and carry along all stakeholders in the process,” the statement reads. 

“Surprisingly, if the said project for which the COAS  and the NA are being maligned sails through and is approved, it is a project that will benefit the civil populace and serve humanity, irrespective of  community affiliation.”

ILOBU MONARCH: PROPOSED LAND BELONGS TO US

Reacting to the development on Wednesday, Ashiru Olaniyan, Olobu of Ilobu, debunked the land-grab allegation by Ifon.

The monarch said the allegation was an attempt to cause trouble within the area.

Addressing the press on behalf of the king, Adegoke Ogunsola, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, said the community was surprised to hear the news of the protest against an “innocent army chief”.

Ogunsola said several courts had ruled in favour of Ilobu over the land tussle. 

The chief explained that a retired soldier and an old friend paid the king a visit and discussed the possibility of facilitating a development centre for the town.

He added that they were taken to a possible location to confirm suitability.

“On Monday 28 August, Olobu of Ilobu, His Royal Majesty Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan II (J.P) received a retired military personnel as a guest,” Ogunsola said. 

“In the course of the visitation, the Olobu of Ilobu suggested a project under the Military-Civil Relationship of the Nigerian Army.

“The retired General, who is a friend of Olobu of Ilobu, was then taken to parts of the Ilobu community where people are in need of the project.

“The places visited are, without mincing words, parts of Ilobu community.

“Court judgments and the Osun state gazette have, for the umpteenth time, confirmed this assertion.”