2nd July, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
Residents of Labora Owode, a community in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, western part of Nigeria, stormed the state House of Assembly in protest against alleged hoodlums who they said have taken over their lands and houses.
The residents, who said they had earlier protested to the House to complain about the activities of hoodlums and thugs in their area, said many of the houses in the community had been demolished by the hoodlums.
When the protesters came to the Assembly on Thursday again, they said their houses have been destroyed and that fences had been erected in the large expanse of land.
Displaying various placards with inscriptions, including: “Please, save, protect and preserve our traditional heritage,” “Save us from oppression response to our need,” “Why should we be rendered homeless,” “Nigeria belong to all of us, save Labora Owode from Invasion,” “Please help us to ensure compliance with the court order restraining further destruction,” among others, they called for the intervention of the House to rescue them from the land grabbers.
They accused an unidentified man as leader of the thugs.
Addressing journalists at the entrance of to the Assembly, Alhaji Tolani Bakare, who heads the Busari Bakare Family of Labora Owode, lamented the situation the community found itself, adding that, this situation was compounded by the lack of cooperation of the police.
Bakare said the man had often threatened the residents with guns and handcuffs and had boasted that nobody could arrest him.
He also said the hoodlums and their sponsors have also refused to obey court processes and rulings over the case.
“The hoodlums are led by a man who we know well. He has continued to boast that no policeman can arrest him.
“We took police there and they could not arrest him. Only a bricklayer was arrested and he was released later that day. This man carries guns, handcuffs,” he said.
Alhaji Bakare also disclosed that two court bailiffs, including Shittu, were stabbed by the hoodlums and had to be rushed to the hospital where they spent two weeks.
At the time of this report, the protesters, who remained in the rain, had not been attended to.