By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Residents of Coker and Ile Anu Street in Ward A, Oworonshoki, Kosofe Local Government, have expressed outrage over the demolition of their properties by the Lagos State Task Force and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) corps. The exercise, which took place on Saturday, reportedly left many residents displaced and in distress.
Eyewitnesses said the demolition was carried out abruptly, with little time for affected individuals to salvage their belongings. One of the residents, alleged that the task force officials not only destroyed homes but also looted money and vandalized provisions, including drinking water. She claimed that the demolition was politically motivated, targeting individuals not aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We are Labour Party supporters, and that is why this is happening to us. They should either find a solution or prepare to meet us in court. This has been going on repeatedly, and we no longer have peace of mind,” she lamented.
Mrs. Joke further stated that residents were given only three days’ notice before their buildings were marked for demolition. She accused officials of forcefully evicting people, destroying their belongings, and physically assaulting those who questioned the operation.
Amid the outcry, Labour Party councillorship aspirant Ambassador Moyosore Badejo visited the affected community alongside an NGO to provide relief. He offered financial assistance, including a sum of N50,000 to an elderly widow, Mrs Comfort Dickson Udoh who had lived in her home for over two decades. Badejo also urged Nigerians to support the displaced victims.
On Sunday morning, Kosofe Labour Party representative Comrade Olusile Akinyemi visited the site and condemned the government’s handling of the situation. “The government is meant to provide security and protect lives and property. Instead, they are displacing residents without making alternative provisions for accommodation. It is inhumane to render people homeless without offering any resettlement plan,” he said.
Residents and community leaders have called for urgent government intervention, urging authorities to review the demolition exercise and ensure fair housing alternatives for those affected.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Lagos State Task Force regarding the demolition in Oworonshoki have been unsuccessful as of the time of this report.