The Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has assented to the bill on land grabbing into law on Monday.
The bill, entitled “H.B. No. 03/2016 – A bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and allied matters and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith” was passed by the state House of Assembly, on October 11.
Anyone found culpable of engaging in land grabbing activities, it was learnt now risks 25 years imprisonment or death sentence.
The clean copy of the bill was presented by the Assembly’s Speaker, Honourable Suraj Adekunbi, to the governor.
Amosun, who spoke after signing the bill vowed that the law would be implemented to the latter, declaring that the state would not be haven for land grabbers.
He said: “We want to let people know that Ogun State will not be a comfort zone for any criminal or so-called land grabbers. They have engaged maiming, killing and lawlessness, but now, the law will go after them.
“We are now having enabling law to prosecute and anybody that runs foul of this law, of course, will have himself or herself to blame.
“To the kidnappers, they know that this is their end. Anybody that involves himself in kidnapping, armed robbery and all social vices will not be allowed in Ogun State. I want to believe that with the operation of this law, criminals will run away from the state.”
The governor appreciated the assembly, Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders for ensuring speedy action on the law.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, also corroborated Amosun, saying the command would enforce the law accordingly.
The Police Commissioner said: “This is a clarion call to all criminals, armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists and so on, there is no place for them in Ogun State. They should relocate because there is no room for them. We are ready to enforce the law.”