The Lagos State Legislative Assembly has granted the Etegbin community in the Oto-Awori Council Development Area rapid intervention status for alleged land grabbing.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that hundreds of protesters staged a peaceful march to the Lagos Assembly on Tuesday, to protest the invasion and destruction of their property.
The protesters carried different banners with inscriptions such as “Etegbin Community has been displaced”, “Hon. Surajudeen Tijani, land grabbers are terrorizing your constituency”, “Lagos State, please stop intimidating land grabbers” and “livelihoods have been destroyed”.
Addressing the protesters, House Speaker Mudashiru Obasa praised them for behaving in a peaceful manner.
The speaker also assured them that their case would not be swept under the rug, adding that the House would give swift intervention to the problem no matter how high the perpetrators ranked.
Obasa, represented (Alimosho Constituency 1), said the House Public Petition Committee would review his situation before it was considered on the House floor.
“I am happy that you know the right path to follow and know that there is a government that can fight for you and you did not put the laws in your hands.
“All letters and banners brought here would be collected and handed over to the Public Petition committee for further investigation.
“We will have to call the people that you have mentioned in your petition that are causing chaos in the community about why they are doing it.
“We will also invite the community before we get to the root of this issue, then we can make our presentation on it,” he said.
The Speaker also urged the protesters to go home in peace without taking the laws into their hands.
Earlier, the protest leader, Mr. Bolaji Aiyepe, said that the atrocities were allegedly perpetrated by Morufu, also known as Kaka.
Aiyepe also alleged that Morufu (Kaka) was hired by Muraino Azeez, who claimed that all the community land in Oto Awori belonged to his family.
In addition, he alleged that in the last invasion that was carried out some neighbors lost their lives and properties were destroyed.
“During the invasion, some of our people suffered serious injuries while others who were detained were taken to Zone 2, Kirikiri and so far have not been released.
“That is why we are calling on the state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the president of Lagos to come to our aid,” he said.
He said the government must provide adequate security personnel in the Riverine community to prevent further encroachment on their community.
reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had sent a high-level delegation led by Local Government and Community Affairs Dr Wale Hammed for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Chapter, who was part of the delegation, said Governor Sanwo-Olu had intervened to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the riverside community.
Ojelabi said that the governor may invite both sides to settle the matter amicably so that peace can reign in the community, and called on residents to maintain law and order in Etegbin.
NAN
