Alagbado residents seek govt’s action against land grabbing
Landlords and residents of the Suberu Oje area of Alagbado, Lagos State, have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to their aid by halting the alleged ongoing illegal demolition
Landlords and residents of the Suberu Oje area of Alagbado, Lagos State, have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to their aid by halting the alleged ongoing illegal demolition of their properties by miscreants.
They alleged the attackers were aided by armed policemen.
The Save Our Soul (SOS) call was contained in a petition by the law firm of Jimmy Alara and Associates, counsel to residents of Lemon Drive, now known as Olusayero Street, Suberu Oje, Alagbado, Lagos State.
The petition, dated February 13, is titled: “Appeal to halt the illegal and continuous demolition of properties at Suberu Oje, Alagbado by miscreants aided by policemen from the Lagos Taskforce on Environmental Offences.”
The petitioners stated that on January 26, residents woke up to the presence of over 200 touts and miscreants, supported by a team of more than 100 heavily armed uniformed and plainclothes policemen, who invaded the entire Suberu Oje area in Alagbado LCDA.
The group allegedly claimed they were executing a judgment obtained on behalf of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).
The petitioners said the touts and miscreants began pasting notices on buildings, again claiming they were enforcing a judgment secured on behalf of the FHA.
They added that within two days, the group mobilised workmen who began demolishing buildings, removing roofs, breaking down structures, and unleashing what they described as a reign of terror on residents.
According to the residents, the mayhem was carried out in full glare and with the active support of policemen.
It was further stated that the hoodlums initially issued residents an ultimatum to “ratify” the occupation of their homes by paying sums ranging from N25,050,000 to N80,000,000, failing which their properties would be demolished.
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The petitioners alleged that the miscreants unleashed an unbroken reign of terror on poor and defenceless residents, whom they described as victims of legal manoeuvrings and procedural irregularities.
The letter added that all efforts to appeal to the miscreants to desist from what it described as open acts of terror had failed.
A complaint lodged with the Federal Housing Authority, on whose behalf the perpetrators claimed to be acting, revealed that the authority did not issue such instructions, the residents stated.
The petitioners also said attempts by FHA officials to stop the destruction allegedly yielded no results, as the acts continued uninterrupted.
The residents said while parties are taking steps to resolve the dispute through legal means, they are appealing to the governor to urgently intervene and halt further destruction of properties.
