The Edo Geographic Information Service (Edo GIS) has strongly refuted a viral social media report claiming that a 17-year-old boy acquired 14,000 hectares of land in the state.
The online post, which sparked confusion and debate, also alleged that Governor Monday Okpebholo suspended the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy following the supposed discovery.
But in a swift response on Monday, Edo GIS dismissed the story as false and misleading. In a statement signed by its Director of Press, Mr. Tunde Egbiremonlen, the agency described the report as “mischievous and baseless.”
According to Egbiremonlen, no such transaction is recorded in the agency’s system, stressing that under Edo State law, a 17-year-old—classified as a minor—cannot legally register land.
“The Edo GIS system will automatically reject any land registration application by a minor. In this case, a 17-year-old simply cannot own land under our laws,” the statement read.
The agency further pointed out that the rumour lacked specifics, as no location was mentioned where such a vast expanse of land was allegedly bought.
“To make matters worse, the peddlers of this falsehood failed to state exactly where this imaginary 14,000 hectares of land was supposedly acquired,” Egbiremonlen added.
Edo GIS urged the public to disregard the viral claims, which it said were being pushed by individuals who allegedly spent significant sums to circulate fake news.
