Buildings in Ikota slum marked, demolished by unknown persons

Properties at Ikota slum, Lekki, Lagos, are allegedly being marked and demolished by unknown persons accompanied by armed soldiers and policemen.

The exercise, which started early last week, had thrown landlords and residents in the area into confusion, The Punch reports.

The unknown persons had also reportedly refused to present any official documentation authenticating their action to the Ikota slum residents.

A resident, Emmanuel Inyang, said youths in the community had been protesting against the demolition, adding that despite the protest, the demolition continued unabated.

He said, “Last week, we just noticed that some people came with armed soldiers and policemen to start marking buildings and makeshift homes for demolition. They refused to give us notice and never showed us any document to back their action.

“We don’t know where they came from. The building where I live with my family was also marked and these people including the security agents were much. Youths in the area have been protesting as the Lagos State Government did not give us any information that they are coming to demolish buildings in the community.

“The marking and demolition of buildings started from Ikota First Gate, by the side of Alternative Road and they have entered the Ikota Housing Estate. The CDA did not do anything except the youths. Nobody was injured or attacked but I heard gunshots.”

Inyang stated that there were rumors that the affected areas in the community had been sold, adding that women also protested against the demolition exercise in the community.

He added, “People have gone to the Lagos State Government Secretariat at Alausa, the local government, Ajiwe, and Ogombo police stations but got no positive result. The women in the community protested today and what we gathered was that lawyers have been sent to stop them from continuing the demolition.

“The affected place is where the government gave property owners whose building were affected at Maroko. My landlord’s property was affected and he was given the property and I have been staying in the place they gave my landlord since 1993.”