Residents of Ayetoro community in the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have raised the alarm over the alleged demolition of their buildings by the Lagos State government officials, especially the Task Force and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The demolition, which reportedly took place on Monday without prior notice, has left thousands of families homeless and in distress.
One of the residents, Ajimuda Gbenga on Tuesday said that some policemen and LASEMA officials came and demolished their building.
Samuel Adebayo, a representative of the community, said he had spoken to several notable people about the incident but he was not sure who could come to their aid as soon as possible.
According to him, “This is a matter of urgency, “Our community existed long before the Oko-Baba Plant Market. However, due to the expansion of the plant market, there has been tension. Ayetoro, a neighbouring community, shares a boundary with the plant market.
“What is happening now is disturbing; the demolition began in the market, about 2 kilometers away from our community. I witnessed them using bulldozers to demolish houses.
In areas they couldn’t reach, they resorted to setting homes on fire, leaving children and their mothers without shelter.
He said they extended the demolition towards the end of the plant market, crossing into their community.
“The boundary between the plant market and our community has been breached, and they are now setting homes in Ayetoro on fire. Over 3,000 residents are affected.
“We received information from one of their agents, who told us that the government’s directive was to demolish the community’s buildings.
I cannot understand why the plant market’s expansion is now affecting the community and its residents.
Adebayo explained that they have destroyed houses in the heart of their community, and even set some buildings ablaze.
According to him, “This act of inhumanity is unacceptable.”
“The only way forward is to ensure the safety of everyone, and that’s why we are calling on everyone to help amplify our voices. The situation is dire, and they are deliberately setting fire to people’s homes. We cannot sit back and watch.
When asked who is responsible for the demolitions, said, “I was told LASEMA and the state government are involved.”
When the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, was contacted, he said, “How can an agency swear to protect the safety of people be so reckless?”
He said, “How can they set people’s properties on fire?
“As a medical doctor trained to save lives, I find it unimaginable that such an act could occur, I have dedicated nearly 30 years to protecting people and saving lives. How could we now be accused of setting homes on fire? Think about it.”
OluFemi Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the allegation was “painful and unjust.”
He reiterated that LASEMA does not engage in demolitions, he said they are a rescue agency, not a demolition crew.
“Every activity LASEMA conducts is transparent, with the press always informed, from the moment an incident happens, we release a preliminary report, and after the situation is resolved, a confirmatory report follows.”
OluFemi Oke-Osanyintolu added that it is a barbaric and baseless thought to suggest that the agency is involved in the demolitions.
Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls nor respond to messages.