Three people have reportedly died of shock, eight others hospitalized after their houses got demolished.
According to reports, Three landlords died of shock when operatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development alongside security agents and hoodlums demolished about 200 buildings at Oke-Ira community, in the Igbogbo Bayeku Local Council Development Area of the state.
The Punch reported that the demolition exercise took place at 10 o’clock in the morning, leaving three landlords dead, eight others hospitalized due to the shock and trauma, and even more landlords and residents homeless.
The publication revealed that the government team stormed the community with three bulldozers around 10am when some of the landlords and residents had gone to their workplaces.
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According to one of the landlords, Akinkunmi Olapade, the officials did not produce any demolition order, but claimed they were acting on the orders of the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The affected members of the community alleged that as the demolition was ongoing, the hoodlums in the team prevented them from retrieving their property.
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Akinkunmi said:
“The value of my demolished building is N25m. Around 10am, I discovered that some government officials came into the community with policemen, soldiers, hoodlums, and some bulldozers from Lagos State Town Planning.
“I met with the policemen and I was directed to one Engineer Omotoso, who said they were in the community for demolition. Over 100 buildings were demolished on New Life Estate, and the remaining 100 buildings were demolished outside the estate, but still on the Oke Ira Family land.
“They never gave us any notice of demolition; they just came in and started demolishing buildings. As I speak to you, I sleep in my car every day. I left my family at a friend’s place; the room could not contain all of us, so I told them I would find somewhere else to sleep. I have been sleeping in the car.
“The hoodlums injured some of the landlords who were hospitalised. We have recorded two deaths because as they demolished their houses in their presence, they collapsed and were rushed to hospitals, where they died. One of the dead landlords was Mr Omotayo.”
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, during a visit to the community, appealed for calm as he assured the victims of justice.
He said:
“I know there is misdeed in what happened, but God will show us the way. To those that have died, it won’t be in vain. God will let them rest in peace. I have the belief that God’s grace is not limited to a place; God will not forsake you.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not aware of the incident.
