Date: 2012-01-23

ABOUT 10,000 residents of Olorunda village in Alagbede, Ita-Alamu area of Ilorin, Kwara State, have appealed to the state government to save them from being displaced following a court order directing them to quit. The people also sought government intervention over alleged dehumanising treatment meted out to them by the officials that brought a writ issued after the court order. The order had asked that the parcels of land on which they built their houses to be returned to the plaintiff, Muhammed Alabi. The writ directed the bailiff and other messengers of the court to give possession of the affected land to Alabi. The writ reads in part, “Whereas by an order of this court dated the 27th July 2011, Alhaji Issa Alabi (substituted by Mallam Hassan Issa),Alhaji Hassan Said Animashaun and Alhaji Salihi Kareem were ordered to deliver to Muhammed Alabi (for himself and on behalf of Abagun Family of GaaUbandawaki Village, via Sapati-Oko, Asa LGA) possession of the land and premises herein after mentioned, that is to say the vast expanse of land measuring 8.22 hectares marked as B in the site plan, situate and lying at Alagbede, Ita-Alamu area, Ilorin, Kwara state.” However the residents argued that they ought not to be affected by the court order because they were not joined in the suit leading to the granting of the order. The residents, under the aegis of Olorunda Community Development Association, in a save our soul letter, urged state House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Rasak Atunwa, to come to their aid.