Nigeria Army in 46year land dispute in Ibadan

[MrVan]

By  OLA AJAYI

After 46 years, the Nigeria Army is still haunted by the controversy of a land dispute in Ibadan – the tussle over the land with the Oganla Family of Ibadan, Oyo State, started in 1966.

Some elders from the family have appealed with President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the authorities of the Army to obey a court judgment that ordered it to release a parcel of land it illegally occupies in Ibadan.

After many years of ignoring the judgment given by a competent court,  elders of the Oganla family staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan calling on all relevant stakeholders to plead with the General Officer commanding, 2 Div. Nigerian Army and 42 Divisional Engineers to release the land to them.

In a letter of August, 2005, and signed by a Brig. General, A A Atofarati, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, agreed to release some portions of the land at Letmauk Barrack to the family.

The Army, however, did not keep its promise because, to the amazement of the family, the land was not released to it.

Led by the Mogaji of Oganla Iware, Chief Lateef Akinola, they marched through major streets in Ibadan begging all well-meaning Nigerians to intervene on their behalf.

According to him, the struggle to get back what rightfully belongs to the family started on September, 17, 1966, when a letter was addressed to the legal adviser, divisional office, Links road, Ibadan, in which the family asked for compensation for the land acquired by the army authorities.

After some legal tussle, both sides agreed to settle the matter out of court and the army wrote a letter for the release of the land.

But, a new twist to the issue started when the family began fencing off the land measuring 14.264 hectares. Some soldiers from 2 Div stormed the place and drove the owners of the land away.

But, responding, the GOC, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abubakar, said through the Army Public Relations Headquarter 42 Div, that the accusation by Oganla family was misleading and malicious.

He said a in release signed by the Acting Assistant Director, Army, Public Relations, Captain Anele Appolonia, that the land is owned by the Nigerian Army and situated between 2 Div army units while a portion of it is used for training and reserved for future use by the army.

"It is unrealistic for Headquarters 2 Div to recommend release of such land as it compromises security of officers, men and their families and military hardware located at Letmauk Cantonment, Eleyele", the army said.

Vanguard Nigeria