The Unspoken War: How Land Grabbing Fuels Bloodshed in Lagos Suburbs
The Silent Land Wars Around Lagos
From the sandy stretches of Ibeju-Lekki to the fast-developing outskirts of Ikorodu and Badagry, a hidden conflict is claiming lives, draining savings, and shaking families: land grabbing.
Once seen as a rural challenge, it has now transformed into a violent business involving omo onile (land speculators), dubious surveyors, community heads, and even corrupt officials. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Why Land Is the New Gold in Lagos
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Ibeju-Lekki’s boom: With projects like the Dangote Refinery and the Lekki Deep Sea Port, land prices have skyrocketed — creating a “gold rush” mentality.
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Urban expansion: Lagos’ population is pushing its borders, making peri-urban land a hot commodity.
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Weak enforcement of laws: Despite the Lagos State Property Protection Law (2016), many communities still fall prey to land racketeers.
The Bloody Cost of Land Grabbing
In 2024–2025 alone, Lagos police and court records show:
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Over 70 reported cases of violent land disputes in Ikorodu and Badagry axis.
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Several killings linked to land tussles, with perpetrators often unidentified due to lack of proper land documentation.
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Victims losing millions of naira in fake land sales, sometimes resold to multiple buyers.
Voices of the Victims
“I paid for a plot in Ibeju-Lekki in 2023. By 2024, three different families claimed ownership. Thugs came with cutlasses and chased us out,” — Kola, a civil servant from Lagos Island.
“My husband was attacked by omo onile when he tried to start building. They said we had to pay another settlement fee,” — Bose, widow, Ikorodu.
How the Syndicates Operate
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Multiple allocation scam – Same plot sold to different buyers.
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Forged documents – Fake survey plans and C of O.
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Violent takeovers – Armed thugs intimidate or evict rightful owners.
These operations thrive because of weak monitoring by local authorities and complicit traditional rulers.
The Omo Onile Factor
“Omo onile” in Lagos are not new — but their tactics have evolved. From demanding illegal foundation fees to outright land hijacking, they’ve turned land ownership into a game of survival.
The Ripple Effect
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Fear of investing in suburban Lagos.
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Court congestion with land-related cases dragging for years.
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Bloodshed and community displacement — especially in rural Badagry and parts of Epe.
What Is Being Done?
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Lagos State government has set up special task forces to curb land grabbing.
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Court-backed injunctions have been issued in Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu.
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Residents are advised to always verify land titles through the Lagos State Land Bureau before purchase.
The Call for Stronger Action
Until enforcement matches the law, land grabbing will continue to thrive.
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Government must prosecute offenders openly.
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Communities must resist illegal levies.
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Buyers must do due diligence,