Kebbi Gov’t Reads Riot Acts to Land Grabbers, Arraigns Two Suspects
By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbl
The Kebbi State Government has intensified efforts to combat illegal land acquisition and the issuance of fraudulent land certificates, with two suspected land grabbers recently arraigned in court. At a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, Commissioner for Lands and Housing Alhaji Muhammad Dangi Juli strongly condemned fraudulent land sales, emphasizing the state’s commitment to tackling this issue.
He explained that the Ministry of Lands and Housing has initiated legal action against the two suspects, who are believed to be part of a syndicate specializing in the unauthorized sale of government and public lands across the state. Alhaji Muhammad Dangi Juli expressed concern over the persistent issue of land grabbing and fake documentation, which he noted had been a major challenge for the ministry.
“These unscrupulous individuals are taking liberties with government and public lands, creating plots and selling them to unsuspecting buyers,” he said. “Such behavior will no longer be tolerated, and anyone caught in illegal land dealings will face the full force of the law.”
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The commissioner further emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to curbing this trend and eliminating fake letters of grant. He assured that individuals or groups, even closest blood relations, would never be allowed to damage the reputation of Governor Nasir Idris’ administration through these illegal practices.
He also instructed the Permanent Secretary for Lands, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmad, to issue queries and suspend any ministry staff implicated in such activities. In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary outlined the scope of the land grabbing issue, noting that government and public lands had been repeatedly encroached upon and sold in plots to innocent buyers.
“At the Aliero quarters layout in Birnin Kebbi, where land can be valued between N30 million and N40 million, two speculators were recently apprehended for illegally acquiring and selling plots,” he explained. “We are committed to exposing members of this syndicate and bringing them to justice to deter others.”
The Permanent Secretary further stated that efforts were ongoing to identify and prosecute those involved in the creation of fake letters of grant designed to resemble authentic documents from the ministry. “Two suspects are already in custody, and we are actively tracking their accomplices for further legal action,” he added.
