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FECA seeks urgent intervention over escalating land grabbers’ activities
The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, has called for intervention towards the alarming criminal activities orchestrated by land grabbers, posing a significant threat to the lives of staff and students of the institution.
The College’s Provost, Dr Albert Akinyemi Fadiyimu, briefed the press at the College’s International Training Centre, revealing that the institution’s original 1,100-acre expanse has been encroached upon, pending appeal further reducing the land holdings to just 20 per cent of its original size.
Fadiyimu emphasised that the most recent encroachment, which transpired on December 20, 2023, involved land grabbers forcibly entering the premises, utilizing a bulldozer to dismantle the perimeter fence.
The provost said the action resulted in extensive damage to the teak plantation, gene bank, and other economic trees estimated at N150,000,000.
He added that the College has all documents showing its genuine possession of the 1,100-acre.
He added that despite reporting the incidents to the Federal and state governments, traditional authorities and security agencies in the state, the College’s pleas have been disregarded, and the continuous trespass is hindering the school’s practical training, final year projects, and research initiatives.
“The public should note that the incessant trespass on the land of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure which today stands at just 250 acres (about 90 hectares) is posing serious existential threat to the College.
“If it is not halted now, it may preclude the entire College or some of the courses presently being offered or proposed to be offered in future from meeting the minimum requirement for accreditation.
“The recurring damage of government properties and threat to lives of staff and students is also getting the College community agitated.
Farms and plantations being used for practical training and students’ final year projects are continuously being damaged and increasingly becoming inaccessible for staff and students,” the provost said.
The College management appeals to traditional authorities, the State government, security agencies, stakeholders and citizens to unite against these activities, preserving the sanctity of the College land for future generations and ensuring agricultural development.
“Everybody in the state should with unison condemn the activities of these land grabbers by tagging them enemies of progress.
“Officials of security agencies in the State should endeavor to operate on the side of justice and the rule of law by not aiding or abetting these lawbreakers but rather arrest those who forcibly entered the College, destroyed our farms and plantations and are threatening the lives of staff and students and charge them for appropriate criminal offences.
Fadiyimu further urged the public to beware not to patronize or deal with anyone to purchase or transfer the College land in contention until all the pending cases are resolved.
Reacting, the College’s Legal Advisor, Barr. Dan Oladapo confirmed that no warrant of possession has been issued for the land grabbers since the case is pending in the court of appeals.
