VIDEO: Rep Wale Raji Moves Motion To Restrain Army From Acquiring Iraye-Oke Communal Lands

Eko Hot Blog reports that Hon. Wale Raji, the Member of House of Representatives for Epe Federal Constituency, has moved a motion before the lower chamber of the National Assembly, seeking a resolution to restrain the Nigerian Army, Epe Barracks, from acquiring Iraye-Oke communal lands in Epe, Lagos State.

The lawmaker moved the motion during plenary on Tuesday.

The motion followed a petition that Raji brought against the Nigerian Army, Epe Barracks, at the House of Representatives on October 4, 2023, accusing the military arm of acts of intimidation, assault, and trespass of 329.588 hectares of land.

Since the petition was presented, soldiers from Epe barracks have allegedly embarked on forceful acquisition of the people’s houses, lands and fishing ponds by extending the fence of the Army barracks to cover these properties.

Therefore, the House member from Epe moved a motion titled, “Motion on the Urgent Need to Restrain the Nigerian Army, Epe Barracks, from Acts of Intimidation, Assaults And Trespass over 329.588 Hectares of Land Belonging To Lenuwa Royal Family At Iraye-Oke without any lawful reason or legal instrument of acquisition pending the Determination of the Petition before the House.”

The motion called on the House to urge the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, to order army officers, especially those stationed at the Epe Barracks, to stop further acts of harassment, intimidation, and acquisition of Iraye-Oke communal lands.

Raji also appealed to his colleagues to resolve mandate the Committee on Army to ensure compliance with the order.

“The Nigerian Army is encroaching on people’s houses, lands, and fishing ponds by extending the fence of the Army barracks to cover this property stationing heavily armed soldeirs at the perimeters, thus denying the owners access to their property,” the lawmaker said on the House floor.

“Also concerning is that the people now live in constant fear of the Nigerian Army as many of them have fled their homes and farmlands which is their major source of livelihood worried that if the Nigerian Army is not prevented from carrying out further acts of intimidation, harassment, and acquisition of Iraye Oke communal lands pending the resolution of a petition before the House, the people may suffer irreparable damage.

“Resolves: 1. To urge the chief of army staff to order the men of the Nigerian Army, especially those at the Epe barracks to refrain from further acts of harassment, intimidation, and acquisition of Iraye Oke communal lands pending the resolution of the land dispute before the House of Representatives.

“2. Mandate the committee on army to ensure compliance with. Mr Speaker, I move.”

The House of Representatives subsequently urged the Chief of Army Staff to order the men of the Nigerian Army, especially those at Epe Barracks to refrain from further acts of harassment, intimidation and acquisition of Iraye-Oke communal lands.

It resolved that this action should be pending the resolution of the land dispute by the House.

The House also mandated the Committee on Army to ensure compliance.

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