Rita Odafe
Residents of Ayetoro in Yaba, Lagos State, are expressing their alarm over the recent demolition of homes by state officials, including the Task Force and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
This demolition, which allegedly occurred on Monday without warning, has reportedly displaced thousands of families, according to information received by SaharaReporters.
A resident named Ajimuda Gbenga recounted that officials and police came and knocked down their home.
Community representative Samuel Adebayo informed SaharaReporters that while he has reached out to various influential individuals for help, he is still uncertain about immediate assistance.
He stated, “This needs urgent attention, and I have faith that SaharaReporters will highlight these issues.”
“Our neighborhood has existed long before the Oko-Baba Plant Market’s expansion, which is now creating conflicts. Ayetoro borders the market.”
“What is occurring is alarming; the demolition originated in the market, about 2 kilometers from our area. I have seen bulldozers demolishing homes and in places they couldn’t access, they used fire, leaving children and mothers without places to stay.”
He added that the demolition has encroached into their community from the plant market.
“The boundary with the plant market has been crossed, and they are igniting homes in Ayetoro. Over 3,000 people are affected.”
“We learned from one of their agents that the government instructed the demolition of our community’s buildings. It is perplexing why the market’s expansion is now harming the residents.”
Adebayo mentioned that houses within their community have been destroyed, and some have been intentionally set on fire.
He stated, “This inhumane action is unacceptable.”
“Our focus should be on ensuring everyone’s safety, which is why we are calling on SaharaReporters to amplify our struggle. The situation is critical, and they are willfully setting homes ablaze. We cannot passively observe.”
When asked who was accountable for the demolitions, he said, “I was informed that LASEMA and the state government are directly involved.”
SaharaReporters reached out to LASEMA’s Director-General, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who expressed disbelief over such allegations, stating, “How can an agency that pledges to protect people act so carelessly?”
He remarked, “How could they set people’s possessions on fire?”
“As a medical doctor committed to saving lives for nearly 30 years, it’s incomprehensible that these actions could happen. How can we be accused of setting homes ablaze? Just consider that.”
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu described the accusation as “painful and unjust.”
He clarified that LASEMA is not involved in demolitions, asserting that they are primarily a rescue organization, not a demolition team.
“Our operations are always transparent; we inform the media at every incident, providing preliminary reports as soon as possible, followed by a confirmatory report once the crisis is resolved.”
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu emphasized that the notion of LASEMA participating in demolitions is barbaric and unfounded.
Attempts to obtain a comment from the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or texts.
