Over 3,000 Lagos Residents Left Homeless as Government Officials and Police Demolish and Burn Buildings
Residents of the Ayetoro community in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have raised concerns over the alleged demolition of their homes by officials from the Lagos State government, particularly the Task Force and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). The demolition, which reportedly occurred on Monday without prior notice, has left thousands of families homeless, according to reports from Fusion Chronicle Nigeria.
One of the affected residents, Ajimuda Gbenga, told a correspondent on Tuesday that police officers and LASEMA officials arrived and demolished their homes without warning. Another community representative, Samuel Adebayo, expressed his distress over the situation, stating that despite speaking to several notable figures, he was unsure who could offer immediate assistance.
“This is a matter of urgency,” Adebayo said. He explained that their community had existed long before the neighboring Oko-Baba Plant Market, but tensions had risen due to the market’s expansion. The demolition, he claimed, began in the market, about 2 kilometers away from Ayetoro, and eventually encroached on their community.
“I witnessed them using bulldozers to demolish homes. In areas they couldn’t reach, they set houses on fire, leaving children and their mothers without shelter,” Adebayo lamented. He added that over 3,000 residents had been affected by the demolitions and arson, and he couldn’t comprehend why the market’s expansion was now threatening their community.
Adebayo further explained that houses deep within their community had been destroyed, with some even set ablaze. “This act of inhumanity is unacceptable,” he stated, calling on Fusion Chronicle Nigeria to help amplify their plight. “The situation is dire, and they are deliberately setting fire to people’s homes. We cannot sit back and watch.”
When asked who was responsible for the demolitions, Adebayo replied, “I was told LASEMA and the state government are involved.”
In response, the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, vehemently denied the allegations. “How can an agency sworn to protect the safety of people be so reckless?” he questioned. “As a medical doctor trained to save lives, I find it unimaginable that such an act could occur. I have dedicated nearly 30 years to protecting people and saving lives. How could we now be accused of setting homes on fire? Think about it.”
Oke-Osanyintolu described the allegations as “painful and unjust,” insisting that LASEMA does not engage in demolitions. He clarified that LASEMA is a rescue agency, not a demolition crew. “Every activity LASEMA conducts is transparent, with the press always informed. From the moment an incident happens, we release a preliminary report, and after the situation is resolved, a confirmatory report follows,” he added.
He emphasized that it was “barbaric and baseless” to suggest that LASEMA was involved in the demolitions.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to messages.
