6,000 Rendered Homeless In Lagos

Armed mobile and regular policemen, numbering over 30, recently stormed Okun-Mopo village in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State and demolished all structures in the entire village, rendering over 6,000 people homeless in the process.

The policemen, who came in the company of some unidentified officials that claimed to be officials of Lagos State government, said they carried out the demolition exercise on government’s instruction.

Mostly affected are residents and original land owners, the Oladehinde and Igbomogun families, who claimed their forefathers had been in peaceful possession of the vast hectares of land for over 400 years.

Lawyer to the family, Mr. Sunday Abimbola, said his clients lost goods and properties worth millions of naira and artefacts which value cannot be quantified in terms of money.

Also, lawyers from Abimbola and Abimbola (Opada Chambers), have forwarded a letter to the office of the Lagos State governor, protesting what they termed “inhuman and barbaric treatment” of their clients.

A copy of the letter, signed by Barrister Uzuma V. Ekwonye states: “Our clients are the deemed right of occupancy owner of the large expanse of land at Egan, Okun-Mopo Village, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

“Our clients were disturbed to see certain persons who brought two earth moving equipment to demolish their houses, fences and other properties with the assistance of mobile policemen, who had cleverly removed their service numbers from their  uniforms and then covered the plate numbers of their vehicles.

“The barbaric way in which these people, who claimed to have taken instruction from the Lagos State government operated, is antithetical to the principles of democracy.

“We are surprised that the Lagos State government can encourage and participate in such inhuman and uncivilised action.”

The lawyer insisted that the right of their clients to own property guaranteed in the Nigeria constitution had been infringed upon.

At the office of the Director of Lands (Governor’s office) Land Bureau, Alausa, an official who asked for anonymity, confirmed that the bureau had received a letter from the law firm of Abimbola & Abimbola and that “the matter is being looked into.”