Land Encroachers Threatening Our Security, Development – Fountain University Seeks Tinubu, IGP Intervention

As land encroachers continue to pose security threat to staff and students of the Fountain University, Osogbo, management of the institution called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to come to their aid.

Addressing newsmen at the management building on Thursday, Registrar of the school who doubles as Secretary to Council , Mr. Sheriff Adenekan, said despite the school having a valid Certificate of Occupant (CoO) received from Osun State Government the land encroachers invaded into its 124.349 hectares of land at Agric. Farm Settlement Area of Oke-Osun, Osogbo.

The Registrar said the land became property of the University under the Yoruba Native Law and Custom applicable to the people of Osogbo sometime in 2005 or thereabout. Of utmost importance was the significant role played by the community leaders in Osogbo led by the late His Royal Majesty, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi III (the then Ataoja of Osogboland) of blessed memory in conjunction with the Osun State Government in their quest for educational development for the people in the state and Nigeria at large.

In response to the land encroachment he explained that sometime around last year, 2024, the management wrote the Ministry of Land and Planning to know if the University has a case to answered on the land but response received from the Ministry revalidated its CoO.

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According to the Registrar, “the encroachment constitutes serious challenges to the integrity of the University’s land holdings and highlights the need for public awareness and vigilance.”

He called on well-meaning Nigerians to support their efforts in ensuring that the land encroachers do not steal away the legal property of the institution.

“It is instructive to further state that there is no any court judgment invalidating the title of the University over the entire land if at all any person feels aggrieved over the title of the University in respect of the land.

“The registration of the University with various government institutions is premised on documents part of which the Certificate of Statutory Right of Occupancy forms.”

Speaking on efforts of the university, the Registrar said they wrote Governor Ademola Adeleke for his executive intervention including Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

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“We made wide consultations to the community leaders, heads and stakeholders over the ugly development added that the criminals refuse to listen to the elders” he said.

He added that ” The University reported the incident at the nearest police station and the matter ultimately reached the Police 11th Zonal Headquarters, Osogbo, Osun State but it was very disappointing that members of the staff of the University were arrested and being prosecuted by the same Police to which the University had reported the incident.”

He further noted “While the University continues to tow the legal, lawful and orderly line of approach to confront the criminal activities of these hoodlums, the law enforcement agents particularly, the Police are called upon to appreciate and commend this lawful approach of the University by acting as expected of them under the law.

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“The University compassionately calls on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Police Affairs, the Inspector General of police and meaningful members of the public to wage into this matter and provide security and safety for the University, its Staff and properties from the hands of these criminals who have besieged the land and continued to maliciously destroy it undisturbed by any institution.”