Demolition: Residents Lament Flouted Court Order

By Akinwale Kasali

Hundreds of residents were rendered homeless following the midnight demolition of homes despite a subsisting court injunction halting the exercise.

It was gathered that, at least, two bulldozers were deployed to the community for the demolition exercise, accompanied by a large number of police officers.

According to residents, over 50 armed policemen fired teargas through the night to disperse those attempting to resist the demolition. They claimed the operation had continued till the early hours of Sunday morning.

It was gathered that over 70 houses across Ajileru, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Streets were pulled down in what authorities described as part of a regeneration plan.

It was gathered that Justice A.G. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja had, on October 23, issued an interim injunction restraining the demolition of properties belonging to members of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Association, CDA.

Despite this ruling, human rights group Amnesty International condemned what it called “violent forced evictions,” stating that some houses were demolished while families were still inside. The group urged authorities to stop “punishing the poor for urban planning failures.”

Leaders of the affected community have branded the act a “gross violation of judicial authority” and vowed to initiate contempt proceedings.

Some residents have accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of supporting the demolition to reclaim waterfront lands allegedly meant for private development.

However, the monarch has denied any involvement, stating that he too had previously suffered losses from a similar government-led exercise.

“I was also a victim when I unknowingly built on land that had been acquired by the government. I have no hand in any demolition,” he said.

The Baale of Oworonshoki, Chief Olorunwa Luwa, also condemned the ongoing exercise, insisting it was not sanctioned by any government authority.

Luwa said, “If this were a government-approved operation, it wouldn’t happen at midnight or 3 a.m. People with genuine property documents are losing their homes in this lawless exercise,” he said.

A resident, Olanrewaju Segun, stated that the demolition exercise took place without the marking of any building.

“We quickly mobilised and stopped them, and that was how they left in the morning. But we didn’t know they would return at midnight,” he said.

Another resident, a pregnant woman named Adenike, described a terrifying escape. “We thought the court had stopped the demolition, but around 1 a.m., bulldozers came again. I ran barefoot with my children. We lost everything,” she said tearfully.

Adewale Thomas, a displaced Lanlord wept uncontrollably saying, “Our homes were demolished while we were asleep, despite the injunction.

“Families, including children, slept outside in the cold”, he stated.