The Ogun House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging Gov. Dapo Abiodun to urgently constitute a special task force on anti-land grabbing and anti-cultism in the state.

This is coming on the heels of recent killings by suspected cult gangs in some parts of the state.

The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader Mr. Sheriff Yusuf (APC – Ado-Odo-Ota 1 ) and seconded by Mr. Sylvester Abiodun (APC – Ijebu North I)

The motion was supported by other lawmakers at the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Olakunle Oluomo (APC – Ifo 1) on Thursday.

The resolution was prompted by the presentation of the case on the floor of the House by Mr. Ademuyiwa Adeyemi (APC – Abeokuta South 2)

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Adeyemi decried cases of cult clashes in some parts of the state resulting in killings and apprehension by residents of the affected communities, “who had to hurriedly close their business premises and run for safety.’’

On his part, Mr. Ganiyu Oyedeji (APC – Ifo 2) also presented a case of illegal enforcement of court judgment on land affecting over 50 communities.

He said that the fake court officials aided by some security personnel including policemen and soldiers stormed Olorunsogo and Sunren communities in Ifo to purportedly levy execution on the affected properties.

This, he said, is against the provision of the existing Anti-Land grabbing Law in the state.

The lawmakers had sought the immediate intervention of the House to protect the law-abiding people of the state as well as requested means of curbing the recurrence of acts like cultism, land grabbing, and kidnapping, amongst others across the state.

The Speaker urged stakeholders in the criminal justice system to rise to the challenges and as well evoke relevant sections of the law.

He advised security agents to bring the full weight of the law against suspected criminals arrested in the charges preferred against them in court

The speaker further called on the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Army to call their men and operatives to order by ensuring compliance with the ‘Sheriff and Civil process law’ and stop unlawful enforcement of land judgments obtained from any courts of law.

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He quoted sections 6(2), and 14 (2) of the law, which provides that: “Any person who enforces or uses agents for the enforcement of any judgment in respect of a landed property except as provided under the Sheriff and Civil Process Law is guilty of an offense and liable to a fine of five million nairas or imprisonment of ten years or both such fine and imprisonment.

“The power to enforce this part of the law may be vested in the Joint Task Force, to be constituted by the governor, comprising of the representatives of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, and any other relevant law enforcement arm of government.

“Any security or law enforcement personnel used to unlawfully violate the provision of this law shall on conviction, be liable to two years imprisonment or fine of N250,000 or both”. (NAN)