Homeowners at Wood Island Estate at Ishawo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State still count their losses months after suspected land grabbers stormed the community demolishing houses.

The suspected land grabbers, reportedly backed by security operatives, had last year, carried out the demolition, that left affected homeowners in shock and despair.

Some of the homeowners, on Thursday, said they were still reeling from the shock of losing their property which they built with their hard-earned money over 25 years ago.

They alleged that the land speculators claimed land ownership without presenting any valid documents.

They also accused them of demanding additional money to “access” their properties, without the knowledge of the Arugbo Odo/Aboki Lawal family, who sold the land to them.

Chairman of the Community Development Association, Adekunle Adeiga, expressed his frustration, stating that the community was not aware of any court order or documentation that warranted such a move.

“People kept coming to complain to me that they were destroying some houses at Wood Island. I noticed that buildings were damaged. The houses that were here, both completed and uncompleted, should be over 50 or 70.

“The reason they gave was that they got an injunction from the court that they are now the new owner of the land. I requested evidence but they could not present any. Their lawyer even told us they don’t have any judgment, but they believe they will win the case.”

The Coordinator of the Arugbo Odo/Aboki Lawal family, Eniran Orisan, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the demolition.

He also commended the police authorities in Abuja for intervening in the matter after the sponsor of the demolition allegedly boasted of having the police in his pocket.

Other affected homeowners, however, urged the authorities to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure justice is served.

Among them, a retired civil servant and a victim of the demolition, Sanni Gerard, said he was denied access to his property despite presenting a piece of evidence.

He said, “I am a retiree. I had land here, which I bought in 2014. Suddenly, I got a call that someone had come here to vandalize the place. So I decided to come and have a check on it. When I came, I discovered that it was destroyed. So I called someone. But before I was able to enter, they asked me to see the boys who were there. I was made to pay N3,000. They still did not give me access to my land.

“So I came in because I knew what I wanted to do. I came in and I checked. They said I should go and see their leader, who asked if I had land there with documents. I showed him evidence with a receipt, but he said that they were no longer valid.”

Another victim, Margaret Animashaun, lamented the development while appealing to the government authorities to intervene.

“I bought my land in 2014, and I was advised to lay a foundation, which I did, and since then, I have been building it gradually until last year, when some rushed to call me that some people were demolishing my house. When I got there, I saw the land grabbers. I want the government to intervene and not allow us to suffer like this.”



https://punchng.com/lagos-homeowners-seek-help-as-suspected-land-grabbers-demolish-houses/