BREAKING: Lakowe Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos residents cry for help over ‘illegal’ mass demolition of buildings

Residents of Foweseje Community,  Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki have cried out over alleged illegal demolition of houses in the community by the agents of an organisation claiming ownership of the community land.

Tribune Online gathered that there has been a long drawn legal tussle between the community and the organisation as far back as 2007.

While speaking with Tribune Online, a resident, who pleaded anonymity said, the case was recently transferred to the Epe High Court and scheduled for June 26, 2019, before the organisation allegedly invaded the community with thugs to demolish houses.

“Despite all the court proceedings which lawyers of the organisation attended all through and despite the fact that the Judge had earlier ruled that all parties should maintain status quo pending the determination of the case, they invaded our community to demolish our houses,” he recounted.

Tribune Online also gathered that more than 50 houses have been demolished as of Friday, in the community with the people promising to be back to continue the demolition, Saturday morning, which was ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

The residents said the calls made by leaders of the community to the Elemoro Police Station and other police stations around couldn’t help issues  as they claimed the policemen that aided the demolition were from Zone 2; a higher police division than theirs and as such they couldn’t intervene and when they eventually put calls to zone 2, the police reveal that nobody gave the order from the zone.

While the Lagos Police PPRO, CSP Dolapo Badmus, was contacted on phone, declined comment, as she directed Tribune Online to get in touch with the Lagos CP over the issue.