The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode and his government have been accused of trying to evict Badia community members out of their homes using an 'evil' tactics.
Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri alleged the Lagos state government is fencing the areas occupied by Badia community members to evict them
A human rights activist, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri has accused the Lagos state government under Governor Akinwumi Ambode of using 'evil' tactics to evict communities in Badia area of Lagos state, thereby forcing them out of their homes.
Ibezim-Ohaeri alleged that government agents last week is "now fencing off the areas (lands occupied by Badia community members) where the residents live, together with the residents inside" in a bid to chase them out of their own homes.
She said this new tactics is to avoid the outrage that greeted recent evictions and demolitions in Otodo-Gbame where poor people were evicted by the government from their communities.
Explaining further, she alleged that the "Lagos State Government is now fencing off the area where the residents live, together with the residents inside. Once they finish fencing it round, residents would have no option than to be forced to move elsewhere. Anywhere!
What makes this situation sad is that both the state and the Federal governments are working together to execute this plot. On the right side, Federal government says residents should move back a bit (40square meters) to enable them construct a rail line. On the left side, the state government is now fencing off the entire remaining area, tactfully displacing the residents without using bulldozers."
She continued "On Saturday, I uploaded pictures showing how Lagos State is fencing round Badia-East community, with the residents inside! The pictures were taken on Friday. As of Saturday evening, you can see that the fence has been demolished! Let me tell you what happened...
"I've often alleged that Lagos State uses chieftaincy families as a front to take over lands inhabited by the poor. Maroko, Makoko, Otodogbame, Badia are all sad examples. In Badia-East, Lagos State used the Ojora family to grab the land from local residents. So, we took Ojora family to court to challenge the land grab. Ojora's claim in court is that the land originally belongs to them. As you can see from the picture, Lagos State is now building a housing estate on the same land that purportedly belongs to Ojora family. Is this possible?
"So, it would seem Ojora family has not been properly 'settled' for their role in the stage-managed land takeover, and they are angry that Lagos State has used them to achieve their aim. So, last Saturday, Ojora family hired thugs to demolish the fence. They even begged displaced residents to return to the demolished land.
"The twist in the drama may be amusing, but this is the real story of how Lagos State is run. The land governance system in Lagos, is nothing but a black market.
The fallen fences destroyed by thugs
"What a country!"
Ibezim-Ohaeri has called on well-meaning Nigerians to stand up for the communities who are about to be displaced and rendered homeless.