Market prospects of over two decades oil palm trees belonging to Shalom Jare ventures Limited, sited in Okhuoromi community along Aruogba/Egbirhe road, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, may be at risk following alleged attacks by land grabbers.
Efosa Aguebor, operation manager of the company, in a petition written by his solicitor, Otamere and Otamere, and addressed to governor Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday, said the farmworkers have continued to be in fear of possible attacks after they were hitherto assaulted by land grabbers.
He claimed that part of the land, measuring over 11 hectares, was invaded by some persons with bulldozers and hundreds of palm trees worth several millions of naira were cut down.
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He urged the governor to take urgent steps so that the farmers can return to work, as well as prosecute the land grabbers under the Protection of Private Property laws of Edo State.
“The farm has been threatened by the land grabbers and the bandits warned workers in the farm never to come to the farmland or else they will be shot dead. The leaders of these land grabbers and bandits have boasted that they are above the law and can never be arrested or prosecuted by the State.
“These bandits which number over 100 invaded the farmland, heavily armed with guns and machetes and other dangerous weapons, dispossessed the farmers in the farm of their working instruments and damaged some of their property.
“The bandits thereafter chased the workers out of the farm with their dangerous weapons and forcefully took possession of the farm. The bandits commissioned bulldozers and cut down prime economic trees in hundreds. They cut down palm trees developed over two decades which are still visible in the farm,” part of the petition reads.
