Victims of illegal demolition appeal for govt’s help
Residents and victims of Suberu, Oje-Alagbado, Amikanle Area Surulere Estate , Alagbado, Lagos, have appealed for government intervention in the illegal demolition of over 50 houses in the community. Eyewitnesses
Residents and victims of Suberu, Oje-Alagbado, Amikanle Area Surulere Estate , Alagbado, Lagos, have appealed for government intervention in the illegal demolition of over 50 houses in the community.
Eyewitnesses allege over 300 thugs with policemen and individuals claiming to be government officials invaded the community, destroying houses and shops, last month.
They claimed to be executing a court eviction order for Federal Housing Authority.
But residents said they got no prior notice nor warrant.
A source, Bidemi Ibrahim, said the team initially marked houses, claiming they were acting on directive of FHA.
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“They came on a Monday and marked houses, saying they were on FHA’s orders” .
“But FHA refuted the claim, distancing itself from the demolition’’, he said.
“They returned the day after, with bulldozers and over 300 thugs to demolish houses.
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“After pulling down a gate or structure, they sell it. They unlawfully sold people’s property. The demolition is in Surulere Estate, near Subaru-Oje, Alagbado-Oke Odo, close to a primary school.”
A resident, Sola Fagbade, said it affected over 50 houses.
“More than 50 houses were demolished. Some partially, while others completely.
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Another resident, Adeoye Babalola, said people were afraid of the thugs because they were armed, they brought caterpillars to demolish our fences and buildings,
“ We went to the police to make a report, they said the order wasn’t from them, FHA also claimed to be unaware. We went to House of Assembly and sought audience with the member representing our constituency, Kehinde Joseph,
“We were also in the council but we didn’t get any positive response. We’ve been displaced and have nowhere to go. We beg Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and IGP to probe who ordered the displacement of residents, he said.
A resident, Saheed Adeoye, said the teams loot belongings after pulling down buildings.
“Once a house is demolished, the team gathers gates, ceilings, iron rods, wood frames, bed frames, windows, generators and other appliances and sells them to scrap metal buyers,” he said.
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“Everything is stolen and sold to scrap dealers. This is exactly what they do since the demolition commenced.
‘‘Once-comfortable homeowners are now homeless. That is the sad reality of Alimosho residents, he said.”
Another said: “We’ve been living here for over 21 years, we call on the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and the government to stop the illegal demolition and help investigate the matter.”
“We have no where else to go. we build the structures with our money earned from our sweat and fasting, please the government should come to our aid”, He pleaded.
