Residents of Jakande Ilasan Estate are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing demolition of their buildings by the Lagos State government.
They are also urging Governor Sanwo-Olu to direct the Task Force operatives to release those who have been arrested and to ensure that adequate medical care is provided to those receiving treatment in hospitals for gunshot wounds.
Officials from the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, along with members of the Task Force, have demolished several buildings and shanties in the estate in an operation that began on Sunday.
During a peaceful protest held by residents at the site of the demolished structures, spokesman Andrew Oretan stated that residents who were evicted from Maroko in 1990 have been traumatized by officials of the state government.
He emphasized their willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve the matter and expressed opposition to the forceful ejection despite their support for the proposed coastal road by the government.
President of the Landlord Association, Prince Seyi Orioye, lamented that over 10,000 residents have been affected by the demolition exercise.
He noted that they have Allocation Letters from the government when they relocated them from Maroko 34 years ago without any development from the government in the estate.
Orioye insists that they are law-abiding citizens of the country and not illegal occupants of the place, saying no one should send them away.
He wondered why the Task Force was molesting the people even amid the current economic hardship in the land.
Orioye made it clear that the coastal road does not in any way affect those living in the estate.
One of the elders in the estate, Mr. Benson Oketola, said that they still have documents of purchase of lands in Maroko from the Chieftaincy family.
He recalled that they were only given seven days’ notice to quit Maroko in 1990 during the administration of Governor Raji Rasaki, with no compensation to anyone.
There are strong indications that the demolition exercise was to pave the way for the coastal road and also allegations that the area serves as a hideout for criminals.
