Hundreds of residents from the communities of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos on Monday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) to raise their voices against the activities of land grabbers who they say have taken over about 1,561 hectares of their land.
The protesters, led by Barrister Tunde Popoola, explained that the land grabbers, led by a certain Mutairu (surname withheld) had been constituting nuisance in their communities which include Oko-Olomi, Olowu Oko-Olomi, Adeba (Jaguna), Itapampa, Adeba (Onikonko), Alabula, Seriki Alabula, Alaga and others.
He said Mutairu and other hoodlums on the 17 April, 2016 invaded and demolished building in the communities of about 1,561 hectares of land.
“There are no houses in those communities and the residents are homeless,” he said.
Popoola added that the case is before Honourable Justice Bashia of Epe judicial division who ordered an injunction restraining the principal of Mutairu not to continue construction and also ordered the evacuation of the hoodlums lurking around the communities, but they refused.
“We have written to the land grabbers task force against the backdrop of the properties protection law, they paraded and arrested some hoodlums including Ganiyu (surname withheld) gaba the son of Mutairu,” he said.
He appealed to the Lagos government to come to the assistance of the people, as they are here are home less.
A resident of one of the affected communities, Alhaji Azeez Akorede said the communities were disturbed by the actions of the land grabber, adding that they had reported to the police station since two years ago, but it did not yield positive result.