As millions of Nigerians prepare for the Yuletide, which is
two days ahead, thousands of residents of Olokonla Town via Ogombo
Village in Eti Osa Local Council of Lagos State, will not be marking
Christmas in a joyful mood as they continue to wail and agonise over the
wanton demolition of their houses by armed military men on December 16.
On the said day, over 50 armed military men stormed the
community and demolished over 200 property valued at over N15
billion.Many of the landlords and occupants of the demolished building,
who attempted to protect their property were beaten; some to a state of
coma, while others were severely injured and are presently receiving
treatment at different hospitals.
Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims, Mr. Utomi Michael,
whose multi-million naira property was not spared, said: “I bought the
17 hectares during the administration of Bola Tinubu and we were issued
all necessary documents. It was initially 24 hectares. I later conceded
seven after a protracted court case.”
Michael disclosed that he is the one that sandfilled the entire 17
hectares and built property worth over N500 million on it, which was
destroyed in a swoop last Friday.
He pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru
Obasa and particularly, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to intervene.
Another landlord, Mr. Kenneth, whose three-storey building
was razed down, retorted: “Where do they want me to start from?”Yet
another victim, Mr. Olufemi Akinde claimed his demolished property was
worth over N70 million, apart from another four plots of land he
acquired.
Worshippers of In His Presence Christ Tabernacle, a church
building that was also demolished, said the action, irrespective of
whoever authorised it, was against the tenets of democracy and principle
of justice, fairness and equity. It was a slap on democracy.”
Meanwhile, the solicitor representing the families of
Bakare, Orebiyi, Seidu Ogunleye, Idowu Bakare, Amonja Oseni and all
residents of the town, Aremo Oladotun Hassan, in a petition submitted to
the Lagos State Assembly, has alleged that there are strong indications
some cabals within the state government were acting on instruction to
implement the demolition.
The petition reads: “On December 8, 2016, copies of some
contravention notices dated December 6, 2016, were posted on some of our
buildings by men who claimed to be officers of the Ministry of Physical
Planning and Urban Development, with a threat of demolition.
“We promptly asked our solicitors to write the ministry, the
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the general Manager New
Town Development Agency (NTDA) among other agencies, intimating them
that the matter concerning the land was before Justice Olokooba at the
High Court of Lagos in Epe.
“However, on December 16, around 7:00a.m. the residents woke
up to witness a willful, unlawful, malicious and an unprecedented, mass
destruction of their property by military personnel being ably
supported by thugs who rode in a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to the
Ministry of Physical Planning with registration number LA 200A76 and a
Hilux Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number BW 703 AGF.”
Although, a source from the Assembly confirmed the receipt
of the petition, he said the lawmakers were yet to deliberate on it,
while officials of the state government, who reacted on the issue,
though on the condition of anonymity, said the matter was being looked
into.
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