The Ondo State House of Assembly said it received over 10 petitions relating to alleged wilful and malicious damage to land in the last one month.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, stated this on Tuesday during the plenary session.

Mr Oladiji, who was reacting to the petitions during the House of the Assembly’s resolution on anti-land grabbing, said that it was disheartening that criminal elements were hell bent on destroying people’s property.

He said, “We recall that this House of Assembly passed a bill on anti-land grabbing, and Mr Governor assented to it, hoping that criminal activities would be curtailed on people’s properties, but the activities of these criminals and land grabbers have messed up our constituencies—killing and destroying people’s belongings. We have received more than 10 petitions from various constituencies and local government areas from January till date.’’

The speaker, therefore, called on all the law enforcement agencies in the state to sweep into action and implement the recently passed anti-land-grabbing law.

He added that anyone caught culpable for damaging other people’s property should be made to face the law within 48 hours.

Mr Oladiji asked the state ministry of justice to expedite action by gazetting the law so as to enhance the execution of the law by relevant authorities.

According to him, the government should give proper orientation to members of the public on the said law.

The speaker also constituted an eight-man committee to look into the petitions and come out with a good resolution within two weeks.

Earlier, Rotimi Abitogun, Akure South 2 (APC), said that the incessant activities of miscreants on people’s properties had caused a lot of havoc and embarrassment.

Mr Abitogun added that many farmers had lost their plantations overnight after being set on fire by land grabbers.

He explained that there should be proper enforcement of the anti-land-grabbing law in curbing the menace.

Similarly, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, Ondo West 1 (APC), said that anyone caught in the act destroying anybody’s property should be brought to book.

Mr Ogunwumiju, who sponsored the anti-land-grabbing bill, said that provisions of the law should be strictly followed.

The House of the Assembly also paid a tribute to the late Secretary to the State Government, Temitayo Oluwatuyi, who died on January 4 and was buried on February 8.

During the day’s proceedings, the speaker dissolved all standing committees till further notice.

He subsequently adjourned plenary to February 12. 

(NAN)