Residents protest land encroachment by NAF in Ilorin

The residents of Alagbado Faagba, Eyenkorin, on the outskirts of Ilorin yesterday protested over encroachment on their land by the Nigerian Air Force. They took their protest to the Kwara State Bureau of Land, displaying placards with inscription reading: “We don’t want NAF near us; the land belongs to us not Air Force; stop disturbing […]

The residents of Alagbado Faagba, Eyenkorin, on the outskirts of Ilorin yesterday protested over encroachment on their land by the Nigerian Air Force.

They took their protest to the Kwara State Bureau of Land, displaying placards with inscription reading: “We don’t want NAF near us; the land belongs to us not Air Force; stop disturbing our people and don’t claim our lands.”

Speaking to our correspondent during the protest, Chairman Landlords Association of the area,  ‎Muftau J. Somope said  they were at the bureau to lodge complaint over encroachment on their lands by  men of  the Nigerian Air Force.

“The Nigerian Air Force officers have been coming to our lands claiming that the lands belong to them‎ and that is why we are here at the bureau of lands for the officials to know the true position of things. When they came they said they have acquired the land for over 30years and  that they dully paid for the land. We are here to know the true position of things and original owner of the lands.

He appealed  to the state government to come to  their aid, saying they have   nowhere to go if they  were driven out  of the area. 

Also,  the Magaji of the area,  Abdulraheem Iyanda told  our correspondent that  there was no any agreement between the residents  and the Air Force on any land and  between  their fathers who bequeathed the lands to them.

“We have taken the issue to Asa Local Government and they said they have investigated the matter and found out that there was no any agreement between our late fathers and the NAF and that nobody collected money from them to warrant demolition of peoples’ houses‎.

“Government should help us resolve the issue because we are tired of demolition of houses and beating of our people,”  Magaji said.

Efforts to speak with the officials of Bureau of Lands failed as nobody was ready to talk to our correspondent but the protesters told Daily Trust that they were asked to write a letter to the Director General, Kwara State Bureau of Land.