Govt, LUTH demolish 100 houses in Ogun

A demolished building and landlady

No fewer than 100 houses were said to have been demolished between Wednesday and Thursday in the Pakoto area of Ogun State.

It was learnt that the bulldozers were working on the order of the Ogun State Government and the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, with protection from riot policemen.

It was learnt that about 30 houses were demolished on Wednesday, while Thursday witnessed more demolition of houses.

On Wednesday, some landlords and youths who were unsettled by the demolition barricaded the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway to vent their anger.

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The protesters reportedly made bonfires on the expressway, chanting anti-government songs, describing the demolition as insensitive.

It took the combined efforts of policemen from the Ewekoro and Ifo divisions, as well as men of the Nigerian army, to remove the protesters.

On Thursday, victims of the demolition were seen sifting through the debris to pick their belongings, while some had arranged theirs outside their former houses, looking helpless.

Two bulldozers were sighted carrying out the demolition of more houses.

Armed policemen and soldiers were also seen at the scene to provide security cover for the demolition team.

Many of the affected landlords claimed that they did not know that the land belonged to LUTH.

Another landlord, who declined to be named, and whose four-bedroom bungalow was demolished, said his life’s investment was gone.

He said, “This is my life savings, and all gone in one swoop. Are we no more Nigerians? Why are we being treated as foreigners in our own land?

“We were told by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, when he came here to campaign that this area was free from acquisition.”

Also, Mr. and Mrs Favour Ayedogbon, who had been living in Pakoto for five years, had their bungalow demolished in the exercise.

The wife said, “I never knew the bulldozer had arrived until our house was demolished.”

The house of the Baale of the community, Chief Oladipupo Fabowale, who was said to be on the run, was also demolished.

The affected landlords chided the government for failure to listen to their pleas despite several meetings with both the representatives of LUTH and state government.

The LUTH Public Relations Officer, Kelechi Otuneme, told our correspondent that the land belonged to LUTH, adding that people built on it illegally.

He said, “The land belongs to LUTH, and people encroached and built houses on it illegally. We had to discuss the issue with the Ogun State Government, and they sent in their officials to demolish those houses.”

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said the police only provided a security cover for the team.

He added that the police would not allow lawlessness on any government road.

He said, “The police will not allow people to disrupt other people’s movement. Are those travelling on the highway responsible for the demolition?”