Alleged land grabbers, Lagos govt officials set ablaze two communities in forceful eviction of thousands
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Lagos state government has forcefully displaced two communities – Ayetoro and Okobaba, leaving thousands of families homeless.
TheNiche gathered that the demolition commenced in the middle of the night without prior notice.
One resident of the community, Ajimuda Gbenga who sent a distressed message to our reporter said the arsonists who were armed with guns, petrol and lighters, displaced at least 3,000 people.
The message reads in part, “Police came to Ayetoro community to open fire at people’s building without any form of notification. Over 3,000 people have been stranded since last night till this moment. No place to sleep or move to.”
It was gathered that the attackers came with no documents, and did not seek an audience with leaders of the communities upon their arrival. They doused the buildings with petrol and set it ablaze.
Gbenga confirmed this to TheNiche in his WhatsApp message. “As it is, nobody knows who sent the police. But they seem to be doing an undercover job for someone because they never allowed the demolition to be recorded.”
Also in a statement signed by CEE-HOPE’s Executive Director, Betty Abah, the child’s rights group criticised the latest demolition exercise by the state government, describing it as inhumane, ill-timed and completely unwarranted.
The statement reads, “We absolutely condemn these unwarranted and ill-timed attacks on Okobaba (Yaba LCDA) and nearby Ayetoro (Mainland LGA), two informal communities in Lagos.
“As is the usual pattern, there is no respect for laid-down rules on the housing rights of these urban poor residents– adequate information, compensation and relocation of affected residents. In Ayetoro alone, more than 3,000 persons have been rendered homeless.
“The exercise is also ill-timed as the country goes through a major economic depression which has affected millions of families with no single safety nets in sight. In addition is the reality of acute housing crises in the state and entire country which urgently requires the provision of low-income, affordable housing and certainly not forced evictions.
“Most painful, several of the children on our programs are affected by these recent forced eviction exercises ordered by the Lagos State Government which ought to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
“The trend of housing injustice in Lagos, outrightly insensitive and openly barbaric in nature, have been the worst in the country in decades. From Maroko, Makoko (several bloody attempts), Monkey Village, Badiya East, Ebute Ikorodu, Otto-Ilogbo, Otodogbame, Ilaje-Bariga, last year in Oworosokin, and even an attempted displacement of Ifelodun community in Oke-ira at the hight of the COVID-19 lockdown but for viral public outrage, it has been heart-rending tails of blood and tears as the Lagos State Government routinely connives with local tours, land grabbers, greedy estate developers eyeing prime locations, to displace the urban poor whilst utilising the instruments of state (including armed personnel and earth-moving vehicles belonging to state ministries), shooting and killing unarmed residents including children”
