LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The management of Shalom Nursery and Primary School and Cedar College, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, has raised the alarm over the invasion of their school premises by people suspected to be land grabbers.
According to the proprietress, Mrs. Adedayo Odeka, the land grabbers invaded the school premises on Saturday with two armed policemen, to carry out the act.
Odeka said that she requested a copy of a court injunction from the two policemen who accompanied the land grabbers to the premises – after forcefully gaining entrance into school – but they could not provide the alleged ex-parte injunction secured from the court.
She disclosed that the land in question was bought from the government and there is no dispute or any pending court matters concerning the property. She also added that there are documents to back her claims up.
“We plead with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, there is no dispute on the land. We are begging government to come and rescue us from the land grabbers,” Mrs. Odeka said.
The proprietress further said the management alerted the Alagolo Police Station, Ipaja and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who called both parties to a meeting to resolve the issue amicably, but the land grabber left the meeting angrily and went back to the school premises to continue his illegal actions.
During a visit to the school on Monday, more than 200 pupils were seen in front of the school gate carrying placards with various inscriptions such as ‘save our school’, ‘I came to school this morning only to be denied access’, ‘we want to learn’, among others.
The College Principal, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Okocha, explained that the incident happened on Saturday as the land grabbers invaded the school, pulled down the gates and fenced it round.
Okocha noted that the land grabbers came with armed policemen and all efforts to appeal to them fell on deaf ears as they threatened to shoot.
Also, the PTA Chairman, Mr. Champion Afolayan, who confirmed the incident, said: “We rushed down here at the weekend, the hoodlums that invaded the school numbered 100, we passed through the back gate to rescue the students and our daughter, a boarder. The school and alleged land grabbers should have a dialogue and settle whatever issues amicably.
“Our children should be considered, they are our future leaders, their mates are in school, while they are outside”.
When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hundeyin stated that the issue is not a Police case but a civil matter.
He further said that Police will not interfere in the matter expect there is criminality to it.
“if they start fighting, we are going to step in but as long as is over land, we would not step in,” he said.