Displaced Lagos community residents accuse Ambode of land grabbing

Displaced residents of Otodo Gbame community in Lagos on Wednesday accused Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of forcefully taking over their lands, demolished their homes and rendered over 300, 000 residents of the community homeless.

The residents who stormed the Alausa office of the Governor in their Thousands were seen carrying placards with different inscription such as; “300, 000 evicted, lands sold to the rich” “Ambode is a soldier in Agbada” Ambode is a landgrabber” among others.

The protesters whose protests and demonstrations paralyzed activities at the state house for well over two hours were thoroughly beaten and tear-gased by the security operatives drafted to the place to quash and checkmate the protesters’ bid from entering the state house.

The spokesman of the group, Paul Kunnu disclosed that at a recent meeting with the State government officials, they were asked to document their requests but we’re shocked with the action of the government as their requests were not given any consideration.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), we had meeting with the government officials, they told us to bring the list of the people living in the community which is impossible for us as we were more than 300,000.

“They promised to give us special assistance in terms of food stuff but that is not our demand. We only want our lands back. Any time we tried to refer them to it, they would stylishly deviate from it.

“In fact at our last meeting with them, one of them told us not to mention anything about the land again or else they would send us away. Anytime the policemen comes around, they would come with the hoodlums and set houses on fire.

“In our documented demands to the government, we requested for the restoration of our land and security measures to guide us against hoodlums who have been parading themselves in our communities with police officials. We also asked for the enforcement of the law, because they didn’t follow the order of the judge not to demolish the waterfront.

“We want to go back to our land, till today, our people are sleeping inside the boat and not all the residents own boat, so, they usually squeezed together there. Our government is attacking us because the interest of private body.

This is where our forefathers lived even before Ambode was born, they can’t just come up and send us away. They were even spreading rumors that we are kidnappers, Boko Haram, criminals etc. how is that possible in a community where we have children and elderly people,” Kunnu queried.

Another displaced residents of the community, Agemo Emmanuel had declared, “We want the government to restore our land but Governor Ambode is claiming that he is not aware of the things going on. Thugs would come and kill our children and relatives.

Last week Saturday, they killed my uncle, on Sunday again around 5am they shot a boy of about 17 years old (identified simply as Daniel) in the community.

They even brought a marine police with gun boat into water harassing us and shooting. The corpses are in the mortuary. Ambode is quiet. We were in court last week Tuesday and the judge said he has nothing to tell us,” Agemo lamented.