Lagos community besiege assembly, demand compensation for demolition of houses

Residents of Oke-Egan community, in the Eleko area of Ajah, on Wednesday besieged the Lagos house of assembly complex to demand compensation for the demolition of their houses. 

NAN reports that the affected residents blocked the main entrance to the assembly, wielding placards bearing various inscriptions.

“We have been demoralised, nowhere to go, we want our properties back,” one message reads.

“Our hearts bleed; We now roam the streets with nowhere to stay; Our children are crying; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, your children are homeless; Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, please come to our rescue.”

Taiwo Alalade, who spoke on behalf of the demonstrators, lamented that her entire family — including three toddlers and her elderly mother — have been passing the nights in the open after their house was demolished.

“One of us has four buildings here. We have all the papers. They demolished all four buildings. Now, I don’t have anywhere to go,” she said.

“Sanwo-Olu should help us so that they will stop the demolition. We were not informed before they started demolishing our houses. We don’t know these people at all.

“I went to work. When I came back, I saw my house in ashes. This shirt I put on has been on me for three days now.

“All my brothers and sisters don’t have anywhere to go. All our belongings have been lost. Where do they want us to go? Where do we start from?

“The state government should tell us where they want us to go. They have succeeded in rendering us homeless. We have been sleeping outside since our house was burnt. If it’s raining, we only cover ourselves with a canopy.”

Abiodun Ajayi, another affected resident, said protesters and the Oba Akiolu of Lagos, had written letters on the development because they want to be lawful.

Noheem Adams, majority leader, who was accompanied by some other members of the house like Oladipupo Ajomale, Fatai Mojeed and Tijani Suraju, addressed the protesters and commended them for their peaceful conduct.

Adams promised that their letter would be presented to Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the assembly. He added that necessary actions will be taken.