Editor
Residents of Ayetoro community in the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have been decried following the alleged demolition of their structures by officials of the Lagos State government, particularly the Task Force and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The demolition, which reportedly occurred on Monday without prior notification, has resulted in thousands of families being left homeless and in distress.
One of the residents, Ajimuda Gbenga, informed SaharaReporters on Tuesday that law enforcement officers and LASEMA officials arrived and demolished their building.
Samuel Adebayo, a spokesperson for the community, mentioned that he had reached out to various prominent individuals about the incident but was uncertain about who could offer assistance promptly.
He expressed, “This is an urgent matter, and I have faith in SaharaReporters to shed light on such issues. Our community has existed long before the Oko-Baba Plant Market. However, due to the expansion of the plant market, tensions have arisen. Ayetoro, a neighboring community, shares a boundary with the plant market.
“The ongoing events are distressing; the demolition commenced in the market, approximately 2 kilometers away from our community. I witnessed houses being demolished using bulldozers. In areas inaccessible by machinery, they resorted to setting residences ablaze, leaving children and mothers without shelter.
He mentioned that the demolition extended towards the edge of the plant market, encroaching 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 impacted.
“We received intel from one of their agents, who conveyed that the government’s directive was to demolish the community’s structures. I fail to comprehend why the expansion of the plant market is now affecting the community and its inhabitants,” Adebayo elaborated, highlighting that homes in the heart of their community had been destroyed and some set ablaze.
He emphasized, “This act of cruelty is intolerable.”
“The only way forward is to ensure the safety of everyone, which is why we are calling on SaharaReporters to amplify our voices. The situation is dire, and they are deliberately setting fire to people’s homes. We cannot idly stand by.
When questioned about the parties responsible for the demolitions, he mentioned, “I was informed that LASEMA and the state government are implicated.”
Upon contacting the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, he expressed disbelief, “How can an agency sworn to safeguard people’s well-being be so reckless? How can they set ablaze people’s properties? As a medical practitioner dedicated to saving lives, it is inconceivable that such actions could transpire. I have devoted almost three decades to protecting individuals and preserving lives. How could we now be accused of igniting homes? Ponder on that.”
OluFemi Oke-Osanyintolu conveyed that the accusation was “painful and unjust.”
He reaffirmed that LASEMA does not partake in demolitions; they are a rescue agency, not a demolition team. “Every operation conducted by LASEMA is transparent, with the media always informed. Following an incident, we issue a preliminary report, and upon resolution, a confirmatory report is released.”
OluFemi Oke-Osanyintolu added that it is a barbaric and unfounded notion to insinuate that the agency is involved in the demolitions.
“Efforts to obtain a response from the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, proved futile as calls went unanswered and messages were left unresponded.”
