Hundreds of residents at the Ijora Badia East
community at Ebute -Metta area in Lagos state have been rendered
homeless following the demolition of their homes by government agencies.
It was gathered that the residents were woken to the noise of bulldozers and other heavy duty equipment about 4am on Friday, September 18 and were ordered to relocate.
Residents stated that a team of policemen and other security agencies had condoned the community and threatened to shoot if they resisted the demolition exercise.
Following the threat, residents said they hurriedly moved their belongings out of the wooden houses.
Speaking to our correspondent, the secretary of the Mainland Slum Dwellers Association, and President of the Rural Urban Development Imitative Mr Agbodimu Musbau condemned the demolition exercise.
“The residents woke to the noise of bulldozers and other heavy duty equipment. They were not informed about the demolition and were not given notices on time to relocate. This is inhuman treatment to the poor. We appeal to the federal government to intervene and come to the rescue of the hundreds of stranded residents who have nowhere to go. They have been sleeping in the open with their children and the aged. This is not the change we voted for. Lagos state government should be called to order. More than 200 houses have been demolished so far and the residents are sleeping in the open”
A resident who identified himself as Jide Onimole said: “We were sleeping about 3.55am then we heard noise. We came out and saw policemen and other security personnel everywhere. They came in vehicles and they told the residents to behave and move out. We were shocked and confused because there was no notice informing us to leave our houses. We hurriedly moved our families out and about 10am, the bulldozers started demolishing our houses. They informed us that the government said we are illegal occupants and our community harbors criminals. They have been demolishing since Friday and they continuing today (Saturday). We are in the cold as we have nowhere else to relocate to”
A mother of four, Bisi Hakeem said she has been weeping since the demolition started. “I have been living in this community for more than twenty years with my last husband. I have four children to cater for and now government that is supposed to alleviate my plight has rendered us homeless. I have been crying because I have nowhere to go with my children. Government should pity us and give us another place to live in”
The evacuation of people from their community in Lagos usually leaves the people abandoned to seek new settlements on their own. In 1990, residents in Maroko were forced out and their houses demolished after the government claimed they were living below sea level and the area had to be sand filled..
It was gathered that the residents were woken to the noise of bulldozers and other heavy duty equipment about 4am on Friday, September 18 and were ordered to relocate.
Residents stated that a team of policemen and other security agencies had condoned the community and threatened to shoot if they resisted the demolition exercise.
Following the threat, residents said they hurriedly moved their belongings out of the wooden houses.
Speaking to our correspondent, the secretary of the Mainland Slum Dwellers Association, and President of the Rural Urban Development Imitative Mr Agbodimu Musbau condemned the demolition exercise.
“The residents woke to the noise of bulldozers and other heavy duty equipment. They were not informed about the demolition and were not given notices on time to relocate. This is inhuman treatment to the poor. We appeal to the federal government to intervene and come to the rescue of the hundreds of stranded residents who have nowhere to go. They have been sleeping in the open with their children and the aged. This is not the change we voted for. Lagos state government should be called to order. More than 200 houses have been demolished so far and the residents are sleeping in the open”
A resident who identified himself as Jide Onimole said: “We were sleeping about 3.55am then we heard noise. We came out and saw policemen and other security personnel everywhere. They came in vehicles and they told the residents to behave and move out. We were shocked and confused because there was no notice informing us to leave our houses. We hurriedly moved our families out and about 10am, the bulldozers started demolishing our houses. They informed us that the government said we are illegal occupants and our community harbors criminals. They have been demolishing since Friday and they continuing today (Saturday). We are in the cold as we have nowhere else to relocate to”
A mother of four, Bisi Hakeem said she has been weeping since the demolition started. “I have been living in this community for more than twenty years with my last husband. I have four children to cater for and now government that is supposed to alleviate my plight has rendered us homeless. I have been crying because I have nowhere to go with my children. Government should pity us and give us another place to live in”
The evacuation of people from their community in Lagos usually leaves the people abandoned to seek new settlements on their own. In 1990, residents in Maroko were forced out and their houses demolished after the government claimed they were living below sea level and the area had to be sand filled..
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