By Iyabo Adebisi

Illegal occupants of government land, whose properties were destroyed on the first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road corridor have blamed fraudsters and unscrupulous agents for their misfortunes.

Some of the affected occupants, who spoke to journalists after receiving compensation for their properties destroyed, urged the Oyo State Government to deal decisively with those involved in unlawful sales of government land.

One of the victims at Jigan community, Mr Usman Bada, government should step up its efforts in curbing activities of individuals selling government lands.

Also, Mr Saheed Adeleke, at Agbena-Odeyale community and  Mrs Omolara Basiru of Aba Otun community, whose property were destroyed, said that activities of the impostors should be checked to avoid innocent land buyers falling into their hands.

They advised government to partner with heads of indigenous villages to curb the excesses of the fake land owners thanking government for the gesture. 

The Commissioner for Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Akin-Funmilayo Williams disclosed that affected property owners on the first segment of the Circular road project would benefit from the N264 million.

Mr Akin-Funmilayo said that identification and verification exercise for the affected property owners on the corridor of the project had earlier been conducted.

Commenting on the activities of the impostors, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Mr Sunday Odukoya, admonished potential land buyers to always conduct verification at the Deeds Registry in the state Ministry of Land before buying lands.

Mr Odukoya who chaired the compensation committee, advised individuals, groups or associations who want to buy land to check the master plan of lands in the state at the state secretariat before acquisition.

Oyo state government had commenced payment of N264 million as compensation for individuals whose properties were destroyed on the first segment of the circular road.

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