Agbara Land Crisis: Residents Face Eviction Despite Federal Titles

LAGOS — The tranquility of Frontline Estate in Agbara has been shattered, as residents live under a cloud of fear and uncertainty. Homeowners, many of whom hold valid land titles from the Federal Government, are facing an alleged siege by a group of land grabbers and armed policemen who are demanding they vacate their properties.

Residents describe a harrowing situation where armed thugs patrol the streets daily, issuing threats and creating a hostile environment. Community leaders say the invaders are acting with impunity, backed by heavily armed police officers.

According to Mr. Taiwo Okulaja, a community leader, the residents are legitimate allottees of the Federal Government’s sites and services scheme in Agbara. “We bought our plots directly from the government,” he stated, “and many of us have valid Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the Ministry of Housing. Despite all our documents, we are being harassed on our own land.”

The current crisis follows a previous dispute with local families, which residents believed was resolved after paying a settlement fee of ₦250,000 per plot. However, that relief was short-lived. Six months ago, over 100 armed policemen and thugs reportedly stormed the estate, this time claiming to represent a company known as Agbara Estate Limited. They presented possession notices based on a 2008 court judgment, a claim residents say is baseless.

The community has been under constant pressure ever since, with families living in a state of continuous tension. Community leaders like Pastor Abayomi Ogungbade are now making an urgent appeal to federal and state authorities, as well as human rights organizations, to intervene before the situation escalates into violence.

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“This isn’t just about land; it’s about our lives and our future,” warned Okulaja. “If the government doesn’t step in, innocent citizens who acquired land from the same government will lose everything they have.”

The long-standing dispute is complicated by a jurisdictional conflict between Lagos and Ogun States. However, recent court rulings, including a 2024 decision by Justice A. C. Shokunbi in Ogun State and a 2023 ruling by Justice Ogundare in Lagos, have affirmed that the 181.303 hectares of land at the center of the conflict is legally within Lagos State.

Despite these judicial affirmations, residents allege the harassment has continued, allegedly aided by rogue police officers. The families of Frontline Estate now find themselves in a difficult position—caught between their legal titles and the persistent threats of those determined to drive them out.