The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the illegal oil bunkering activities as well as the displacement of over 10,000 residents living within the riverine area of Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Oghene Egoh, who condemned the action of the Naval Officers who allegedly aided the people who used bulldozers and caterpillars to destroy houses and properties of over 10,000 people including women and children who live in the communities.
The lawmaker who called for the House intervention argued that the ugly incidences affected several communities including the people of Abule Glass, Abule Elekpa, Bobukoji, Idimangoro, Babakati, Kopime, Akaraba, Inagbe, Abule Kamoru, Abule Alfa, Sokoto, Laje, Sopo beach, Kobena beach and Lishe beach area in Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State who have lived together for over three hundred years.
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According to him, during the “incident which occurred on the 15th January 2020, there were unprecedented attacks which led to the destruction properties in the above areas that were orchestrated by unknown persons wearing Naval uniforms.
“The House was informed that residents of those communities in the riverine areas of Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State woke up to see bulldozers and caterpillars, fully protected by people in Navy uniform, storming the areas and destroying houses and properties of those indigenous communities that have Traditional Rulers and Baales.
“The House is worried that no notice whatsoever was given to them, as they were taken unawares, and could not salvage any of their properties before they were crushed into rubbles and they were then sent out of their lands.
“The House is concerned that the displaced persons of the communities numbering over ten thousand women, children, men, Obas and Baales are stranded without being paid any compensation.
“The House is aware that the people that carried out the ejection and the destruction of the properties claimed that it was due to illegal oil bunkering activities being carried out in the affected communities.
“The House observes that even if there were illegal oil bunkering activities in the areas, it was not everybody in the communities that were involved and therefore, it was not fair that the whole communities were punished for the offences of a few unruly hoodlums in the areas,” Hon. Egoh exclaimed.
To this end, the House resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to find out the remote and immediate causes of the mayhem in order to provide remedy for the problem and compensate the people who were displaced and also identify the perpetrators of illegal oil bunkering activities for sanctions to be meted out to them to avoid a repeat of such a dastardly behaviour.
