BY MUIZ BANIRE
The plight of innocent property owners at the hands of land grabbers has become one of the most disturbing trends in the country today. This menace demands the urgent attention of the government before it destroys public confidence in property ownership, law enforcement and the administration of justice altogether. The way these land grabbers now operate gives the frightening impression that in certain spaces, there is no government at all, or that where government exists, its institutions have become too weak, too compromised, or too indifferent to protect innocent citizens. This is not an exaggeration.
The brazenness with which some of these individuals operate makes one wonder whether the right to own property still enjoys the protection our laws promise. For many Nigerians, acquiring land is no ordinary transaction. It represents years of savings, sacrifice and deferred gratification. Some work their entire productive lives before they can afford a modest parcel of land on which to build a home. Some borrow money. Some sell other assets. Some pool retirement benefits, cooperative contributions and family resources.
Others inherit the property from generations before them. Whatever the route, land remains one of the most valuable assets available to the average Nigerian. It is therefore tragic that after a citizen has legitimately acquired land, paid the purchase price, secured documentation, perhaps even begun development, a stranger can suddenly appear, mobilise thugs, and attempt to seize the property by force. In some cases, the lawful owner has been in peaceful possession for decades before armed persons arrive with bulldozers and a strange claim of ownership. Ordinarily, land disputes should be resolved through lawful process. Where two parties claim competing interests in the same property, the proper forum is a court of law:
