Lagos state government set to unleash its wrath on ‘Omoniles’

The Lagos state government, on Monday, announced that it will soon unleash its wrath on land grabbers, also known as ‘Omoniles’, in the state. The Akinwumi Ambode government has set up a five man Special Task Force to curb the criminal act.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, made the warning on behalf of the state government, saying that the full wrath of the law will come upon anyone found taking anybody’s land by force. While inaugurating the task force, the government said that henceforth, it will enforce the state’s laws on land and also work with security agencies to implement it.

The task force is expected “to reduce to a barest minimum the activities of persons or corporate entities who use force and intimidation to dispossess or prevent any person or entity from acquiring legitimate interest and possession of property acquired through state government or private transactions.”

And also “to coordinate the efforts of the various agencies of government charged with enforcing the state government rights over land in Lagos and to work with all security agencies to ensure enforcement of state government and private property rights in Lagos State.”

The Lagos state AGF further noted that “the land grabbers  have caused havoc and unrest in different parts of the state by dispossessing legitimate land owners of their properties, thereby stifling commercial activities in the state.”

“It is therefore important that the state government not only identifies the effects of the problems being perpetrated by these unscrupulous elements on commercial activities and peace of the citizenry but also find lasting solutions to the menace.”

Kazeem also disclosed that the state lawmakers were working on implementing a law that will deal with the activities of Omoniles and also prescribe stiff punishment for the act.