Overnight demolition: Lagos residents recount ordeal

Sanwoolu

Residents of Oworonshoki, under the Kosofe Local Government Area, have accused the Lagos State Government of betrayal after their houses were demolished despite submitting documents and beginning restructuring processes demanded by authorities.

Appearing on Channels TV’s Morning Brief programme on Wednesday , the Chairman of a Community Development Association, Balogun Jamiu, said residents were left in shock when bulldozers moved in at night.

“The demolition came to us as a surprise. Because although we are notified that we should restructure our houses, and which we have proof, as in we start doing that, repairing our houses,” Jamiu said.

He narrated how many residents invested heavily in their homes to meet government requirements.

“There’s a woman in our area that sold her house at Ikorodu to repair the one at Oworonshoki here.

“Unfortunately, as I speak to you, the house has been demolished. The woman she’s in the hospital like this, receiving treatment, which is very painful,” he added.

Jamiu insisted that most affected property owners already had valid documents.

“Like mine, particularly, I have C of O. Many of us have C of O. They will now start demolishing our houses, which is uncalled for,” he said.

Another resident, Femi Badewa, said the demolition began in the middle of the night without notice.

“I was shocked when someone called me and told me that the task force are coming that very Friday to come and demolish our house. I said it’s not possible.

“But at exactly 1am, the demolition started. We were like, Wow, is this real? Can this be true?” Badewa said.

He alleged that the demolition was suspiciously carried out,”That very day, they came with, for a policeman, their vehicle had no plate numbers.