Suspected land grabbers on a rampage have left a trail of violence in their wake, resulting in the tragic deaths of a 24-year-old plumber, identified only as Femi, and another unidentified individual in Orile Eegun Kara Nla, located in the Mowe area of the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area in Ogun State.In a separate incident, a different group of suspected land grabbers has forcefully taken control of 13 villages in Shimawa, situated in the Sagamu Local Government area of the state, forcibly displacing residents from their homes.According to eyewitness accounts, the Orile Eegun Kara Nla incident occurred around 12 noon on Friday when the hoodlums invaded the community to enforce a court judgment concerning a parcel of land. Upon encountering laborers employed to work on the land, the assailants opened fire, resulting in tragic consequences.While some laborers managed to escape the onslaught, Femi, in his attempt to flee, was struck by a bullet in the back, leading to his untimely demise. Another worker sustained a gunshot wound to the arm.An anonymous eyewitness, fearing reprisal, shared, “On Thursday, a group of hoodlums infiltrated the community, brandishing various weapons, and initiated attacks on individuals who had constructed houses on portions of the land. They threatened the residents, demanding their immediate evacuation or payment. On Friday, they returned and resorted to indiscriminate shooting to instill fear. When they reached the location where the laborers were working, they fired at them, tragically hitting Femi as he tried to escape. Another worker was also shot in the arm.”The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday. The statement, titled “No Criminal Can Hibernate in Ogun State,” revealed that an anonymous caller had reported a case of murder, armed robbery, and land grabbing to the Mowe Police Division.According to the statement, CSP Afeniforo Folake promptly arrived at the scene, only to discover the bodies of the two victims, which were subsequently transported to the hospital for autopsy.”The fleeing suspects forcibly seized four Bajaj motorcycles, injuring the owners in the process, as they sought to make their escape. The injured motorcycle owners are currently receiving medical treatment. In pursuit of the criminals, the Tactical Unit successfully forced them to abandon their Toyota Corolla, a gold-colored saloon car with the license plate JJJ 979 HL LAGOS, which is presently parked at the Mowe Police Station. Monsuru Ishola has been apprehended for questioning, as he is believed to have played a role in the incident. Three additional suspects connected to the case were apprehended at a hideout in Kara Ileke village, located via Mowe. The names and identities of these individuals will be disclosed in subsequent updates,” the statement explained.Meanwhile, distressed residents of Shimawa town have raised their voices in a plea for assistance from the state government. Leading a protest, Tiamiyu Fasasi, a community leader, revealed that the land grabbers laid claim to ownership of the 13 villages in the town. These villages include Shimawa axis, Igbo Iwaju, Ososa, Oke Ate, Aiyetoro, Okerala, Ajebo, Kaniyi, Ewu Ijebu, Mamugba, Ewu Oje, Ewu Lisa, Ewulosi, and Otasanya.Fasasi recounted that the land dispute originated in 2018 during the enforcement of a court judgment.”We appeal to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, the Kabiyesi of Shimawa, and the police to assist us in ridding ourselves of these land grabbers. They are not part of our community; they do not have any land rights here. They appeared out of nowhere, and we were not involved in their court case,” Fasasi pleaded.While the Police Public Relations Officer requested additional time to analyze the case, she referred to the incident as a civil matter.