Military threatening to demolish 5,000 houses, Ogun communities tell Assembly

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Military threatening to demolish 5,000 houses, Ogun communities tell Assembly

The lawmaker representing Abeokuta-North State Constituency, Babatunde Tella, on Tuesday, called the attention of the Ogun State House of Assembly to a petition by 20 communities in his constituency alleging planned demolition of over 5,000 buildings by the Nigerian Army.

According to the lawmaker, the military accused the house owners of encroaching on an expanse of land belonging to the Nigerian Army Division 32, Alamala Barracks.

Tella called for the intervention of the Assembly over the matter.

Responding, the Speaker of the Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, gave the assurance that necessary stakeholders would be engaged towards addressing the concerns of the petitioners.

Also at the Tuesday plenary, the Assembly cautioned men of the Nigeria Customs Service to stop harassing residents of border communities in the state under the guise of clamping down on fuel smuggling into neighbouring countries.

The Assembly enjoined operatives of the NCS to abide by the standard rule of engagement in the discharge of their official duties.

The Speaker made the call in response to the submission of a member representing Ipokia/Idiroko State Constituency, Bisi Oyedele, who brought the matter before the House.

Oyedele, in his submission, said, “Some Customs officials are conducting illegals raid on the business premises of some residents under the guise of confiscation of petroleum products purchased from the filling stations in neighbouring communities for domestic use.

“The embargo placed by the Federal Government on the sale of petroleum products within 20km of the border, which has led residents of border communities to buying the product in kegs for personal use, is now being exploited by Customs officers carrying out illegal raids.”

The Speaker, in his response, asked Customs men to avoid any act capable of leading to loss of lives and property of innocent residents, especially at border communities in Ogun State.

Similarly, the lawmaker representing Odogbolu, Lukman Adeleye, presented another petition by the Alaye-in-council of Odogbolu on the activities of land grabbers which he said could result in security breach and loss of lives and property.

The Assembly acknowledged the receipt of a correspondence from the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, requesting its approval for the nomination of Mrs Oyinkansola Cole as a member of the Judicial Service Commission.