By Ogalla Daniel
The Kogi State House of Assembly, has expressed grave concern over the alleged illegal sale of large portions of reserved community land by some traditional rulers within Kogi/Koton karfi Local Government Area, particularly along the Chikara community axis up to the Kogi State boundary with Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The development followed a motion of urgent public importance moved on the floor of the House by the member representing Kogi/Koton karfi Constituency, Hon. Idrees Maikudi, during plenary in Lokoja.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Maikudi, decried the unauthorized sale of lands originally reserved by host communities for public use, including the establishment of secondary schools, higher institutions, and other government projects.
He noted that the sales were carried out without the consent, authorisation, or knowledge of the Kogi State Government, describing it as a violation of both state and federal land laws.
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The lawmaker raised alarm that several of the land buyers were individuals of questionable character, including suspected bandits and kidnappers, whose presence now poses a serious security threat to residents along the Chikara-Abaji axis.
According to him, “This unlawful action by some traditional rulers is a gross abuse of traditional authority, a betrayal of community trust, and a flagrant breach of the Land Use Act and the 1999 Constitution, which vests all land in the Governor for the common good of the people.”
Hon. Maikudi urged the House Committee on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development and the Committee on Security and Local Government Affairs, to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas and report back within two weeks.
He appealed to traditional rulers in the state to desist from allocating or selling land without following due process and obtaining the necessary government approval.
While calling on the State Traditional Council to discipline any traditional ruler found guilty of such acts in line with the Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition, and Establishment of Traditional Council) Law, 2006 (as amended), the lawmaker urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations along the Chikara-Kotonkarfi-Abaji corridor to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
“The illegal sale of community to criminal elements is not only a violation of law but also an assault on public order, security, and the future of our state.”
The House, after exhaustive deliberations, unanimously condemned the illegal sale of the lands and appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, to constitute a Special Investigative Committee comprising representatives from the Bureau of Lands and Urban Development, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and relevant security agencies to investigate the matter and recommend appropriate sanctions against those involved.
The lawmakers urged the state government to revoke all illegal land transactions, recover the affected lands, and restore them for their original purposes as community and educational development sites.
In his ruling, the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, commended the mover of the motion and described the matter as a serious security and developmental concern that must be addressed with urgency.
He directed the relevant committees to ensure thorough investigation and report back promptly for further legislative action.
