By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Oyo State Housing Corporation has conducted a fact-finding mission to the Owode Housing Estate Phase II, Apata, Ibadan, urging those yet to develop their allotted lands in the estate to do so in order to avoid losing such lands. This is sequel to an outcry by residents over insecurity and constant attacks by men of the underworld using the area as a hideout.
Residents of Owode Estate Phase II had earlier sent a Save Our Soul message to the Corporation, decrying the spate of insecurity in the estate, noting that the massive forest in the estate had become a criminal hideout and the few residents, who had developed their plots, could not sleep with their two eyes closed.
Speaking shortly after conducting newsmen round the wide expanse of land, chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation, Hon. Demola Omotosho, pointed out that though the estate was inaugurated close to 50 years ago, only about 20 per cent of it had been developed. He noted that the fact-finding mission to the estate with newsmen became imperative following protests from residents, who reported cases of burglary, rape, and violent attacks.
Earlier, a representative of the residents of Owode Estate Phase II, Deacon Idowu Aladejobi, said that residents of the estate indeed, sent a Save Our Soul to the Oyo State Housing Corporation, noting that criminals frequently hid in the numerous undeveloped plots around the estate, launching attacks on residents both day and night.
According to him, the abandoned lands have become danger zones and that it took repeated complaints to get the attention of the Housing Corporation to identify owners of the undeveloped plots.
