Ruthless demolition targeting people in poverty must stop— Amnesty International

The Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the violent forced eviction of Ilaje-Otumara riverside community of Lagos carried out on Friday, rendering over 10,000 people homeless. 

Reacting to the forced eviction in a statement on Tuesday, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi Director said, the Lagos state government must halt its ruthless campaign of demolition which has been carried out without any consultation, adequate notice, compensation or alternative housing being offered to those affected – in complete defiance of international human rights law to which Nigeria is bound.

Sanusi said in the statement that, “The forced eviction at Ilaje-Otumara was carried out in defiance of a subsisting court order of 21 June 2017 and despite pledges by the government to upgrade the community with facilities. 

“Families affected by the demolition are now stranded, with many losing everything – including their means of livelihood. Every now and then the Lagos state government uses forced evictions to take land from people living in poverty, regardless of the impact of such action on the affected communities that always end up destitute.

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“The forced eviction at Ilaje-Otumara was carried out by armed security forces backed by unidentified men widely known as “area boys” who were armed with machetes, guns and axes”, the Amnesty International statement said.

It further stated that, many of the affected people were left with injuries and some families reported that they could not trace their children.

“Lagos must be an inclusive city, and a mega Lagos must not come at the expense of the lives and livelihood of communities living in poverty who are being punished for the decades of government’s urban planning failures.

“Lagos state government must place a moratorium on mass evictions, investigate use of violence during forced evictions, and provide effective remedy to all those in Ilaje-Otumara whose human rights have been violated”, the statement noted.

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