A young woman, Damilola Adisa, and her siblings have alleged intimidation, threats and an attempt to forcefully take over their late father’s property in Ibafo, Ogun State.

Appealing to relevant authorities for help, Adisa, who hails from Osun State but was raised in Ibafo, recounted a series of tragedies that left her and her siblings orphaned at a young age.

She said their mother died in 2012, while their father was brutally murdered in 2015 after being lured out by unknown assailants, leaving the family devastated and struggling to survive without parental support.

According to her, the family’s only inheritance is a piece of land located at No. 10, Surakatu Okunola Street, Mogede, Qwara Quarters in Ibafo, Ogun State, where their late father built a house and was buried.

Adisa noted that, though in deteriorating condition due to flooding, the siblings have refused several offers to sell the property, insisting that it holds emotional value as their father’s final resting place. She claimed that sometime last year, some unidentified individuals approached them with an offer of N2.5 million for the land, but the family rejected the proposal.

However, she narrated that trouble started in April when a witness alerted them that unknown persons had entered the property. On arriving at the site, she and her sister allegedly found workers demolishing part of their father’s burial ground and making a foundation, with a man (names withheld) claiming ownership of the property and supervising the activities on the site.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest. However, she alleged that while in police custody, the suspect openly vowed to harm her and her siblings and take possession of the property.

Shocked that the suspect was later released on the directive of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ibafo Police Station without signing any undertaking, she said the siblings later petitioned Zone 2 Police Command, having lost confidence in the station’s handling of the matter.

According to Adisa, tensions escalated on June 10 when police officers allegedly arrived at her residence and attempted to compel her to accompany them to the station, seizing her phone. She further alleged that officers returned on subsequent occasions, insisting on their arrest.

Fearing for their safety, Adisa said the family fled their residence and is currently in hiding at an undisclosed location, with neither the Ogun State Police Command nor the individuals accused yet to give any official response.

Meanwhile, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) on the controversial land dispute has declined to comment on the matter. When contacted for clarification on the alleged unlawful release of a suspect, intimidation and the ongoing dispute over the property, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Babaseyi Oluseyi, acknowledged the report against a man identified as Nojeem Solanke, who, among others, was alleged to have damaged the late man’s grave at Mogede Village, Ibafo, and carted away building materials (granite, iron rods, and blocks) valued at N2,750,000. The case was under investigation.

According to him, the suspect was arrested, an eyewitness made a statement, the scene was visited, and the case was later transferred to SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, following a petition to the Commissioner of Police.

He added that “the complainant was requested for an interview at SCID but declined despite several efforts to secure her attendance.” (The Guardian)

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