Despite having the case in court, the Nigerian Army has completed plans to renew the tenancy agreement it had with occupants of the 3, 646 acres of land it forcefully took over in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
According to a report, representatives of the Nigerian Army met with the occupants of the land in a bid to renew the agreement.
In what could be described as a ‘renew of contract’ in the year 2020 by the Nigerian Army over the lingering 3,646 Acres of land debacle between both parties, Osun Reporters exclusively gathered that a fresh order has been issued to all occupants on the already leased or rented out lands in what is believed to be a quick attempt to reduce tension and public interest on the said land which has been a subject of litigation for long.
Two officers of the Army identified as Sergeant Ojo and Captain Abubakar allegedly gave fresh order during one of the meetings with the occupants of the disputed land, stating the new dimensions of which the money would be paid to the Nigeria Army in monthly basis instead of the previous annual payment by those tenants.
Investigation also revealed that many of the occupants of the disputed land were living in fear because of the intimidation that may arise from their disputed landlord, this is why those who spoke with the OsunReporters.com claimed anonymity on the recent order circulated to tenants/occupants of the said land.
In Osogbo, some of the occupants of part of the said land who are using it for farming usually paid N5,000 per annum in not less than 200 acres of the land; numerous shop owners are paying N10,000 annually; those who are making use of the palm oil prospecting, felling of trees and sawmilling it into timber longs and planks are paying N20,000 per annum; construction of fish ponds, farming camps, sand/gravel digging/haulage were not left out while sales of land for private use cost about three hundred and seventy-five thousand naira N375,000 (military price) per 750-square meters, and five hundred and twenty-five thousand naira N525,000 for civilian were amongst those who are paying huge amount of money to the Nigeria Army which could have accumulated to several millions or billions of naira.
Recall that, the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo recently adjourned for ruling over the jurisdiction on the age long land dispute involving the Nigeria army and the Kelebe-Omu landowners Association comprises of Osogbo, Olorunda, Obokun and Boripe Local Governments of Osun State till March.
OsunReporters also stated that it had earlier forwarded letters to the Nigerian Army, Engineering in Ede, to request an interview over this matter. While we await the other side of this narratives by the Nigerian Army, there are pictorial evidences of both past and recent activities where hundreds of shops, offices and residential buildings were erected on the said land.
