Landlords Turn Homeless in Isoko Community Under Eti-Osa LG, Calls on President Tinubu Quick Intervention

The situation is dire, with the Isoko Community facing extreme force and violence. The collaboration of certain powerful elements in the Lagos State Government in discharge of duty seems suspicious and call for proper investigations of the activities of some of the government agency and officials. Especially when it involves the people or indigenous people of the state.

Our Platform believes that we are all critical stakeholder in the building of Lagos State of our dreams. Therefore muting the collective idea of a dream Lagos State required fairness, equity and justice. If not, it makes nonsense of our collective dreams with no recourse to law and the same people.

How do we explain these, the Isoko Community in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State woke up one day with a suppose government bulldozer, properties worth billions was destroyed, without justification of the action till date in a commandoes style.

While the Isoko Community claims occupation of the place with necessary documents spanning almost three decades of existence there. And lease from the Ojomu family on a 50(fifty) years agreement. Findings confirm the assertions.

In the process,

– The community’s chairman was physically assaulted, and homes were demolished without warning.
– One community member, Mr. Gifts Ologbo, died from shock after losing his home and business.
– The community had a lease agreement with the Ojomu family and provided documents to authorities.
– Authorities ignored their responses and proceeded with demolition, accompanied by police and thugs.
– The community believes the Ojomu family’s reputation is being targeted and seeks justice in court.

haven’t done a background check, Information revealed that, The community’s Secretary, Mr. Clements Okeh, expressed their distress and determination to seek justice. The incident has led to significant emotional and financial losses for the community.

According to the Chairman of the Isoko Community, Mr Lucky Ozero, the community has been living on the land since 1960, and they were given a 50-year lease,out of which they’re in their 25th years which they believed was still valid. They’ve been paying rent and had built a thriving community.

However, it seems like there might be an internal dispute within the Ojomu family, and possibly some collusion with state government officials, leading to the demolition of their homes.

The community has tried to engage with the authorities, responding to petitions and providing documents, but their efforts have been met with silence or violence. The presence of the task force and police during the demolition suggests possible government involvement or acquiescence.

The fact that the community is being prevented from returning to their homes and the land is being sand-filled suggests a deliberate attempt to displace them. It depicts that the authorities seem to be turning a blind eye to this situation.

While narrating the situation to our reporter , he said, “we have lost everything till date no explanation has been given for our wrong deeds. Despite every civilized means of engagement deplored none has been honoured. We are therefore appealing to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervention.the Isoko Community Leader, Mr Lucky Ozero told our field correspondent

Our reporter met with the Secretary of the Isoko Community, Mr Clements Okeh, according to him, the situation is more tense on the very uncivilized way the officials who came to demolished our homes conducted themselves. The Chairman of the community was physically assaulted, which is a serious violation of his rights and dignity. The community is feeling targeted and intimidated at a point but were not disappointed with the play out of the scheme, all the shenanigans of not giving us audience is already established aided with manipulation from the Lagos State Government officials.

The drama started with Lagos State Task Force officials, a notice of demolition was posted . The Isoko Community briskly responded to the Office. We were told there’s a Petitioner . Till date we didn’t meet with the Petitioner , while all our documented evidence of Lease Agreement with the rightful family (Ojomu) were provided.

While dealing with that the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning pasted another not too different from the initial. We responded accordingly with all necessary documents. It’s noteworthy and disheartening that without recourse to fair hearing or law they took the Community unaware, armed with Police, Thugs assaulted anyone on sight and demolished all we have worked for in decades !

The dastardly acts has led to the death of one of us, whose entire life and family business is built within the Isoko Community. Mr Gifts Ologbo a landlord and a father of four children couldn’t survive the shock as he passed away shortly after the demolition of his house and the family business. The collosal lose is beyond the imaginable.

At a point we are at a lose of what prompted the inhumanity against humanity? Why on earth should such wickedness be melted on fellow Nigerians, are we wrong to justly and rightly occupy a space within the armpits of the law? Is this our offence? We profile our relationship with our hosts if there’s grey areas, we found nothing. Okeh said in tears…!

Going through memory lane, the community had a good relationship with the Ojomu family, and we believe the Kabiyesi (the traditional ruler) wouldn’t authorize such actions. The Oba (the traditional ruler) himself has denied culpability, which suggests that someone might be trying to tarnish the family’s reputation and decided to be a demon in human.

The community’s Secretary, Mr. Clements Okeh, expressed their distress and determination to seek justice. The incident has led to significant emotional and financial losses for the community, he told our reporter.

The community is determined to seek justice in a competent court of law and clear the Ojomu family’s name. They’re looking into their options and are willing to take action to protect their rights and interests.

*An insider account, Paul Irakpo*

*Paul Irakpo is a 56 years old man, an Ikota indigene by birth from Delta State extraction told The newsmen the ugly incident and call for the President’s intervention*

Some government agents came to our community and destroyed the place .The very day they destroyed that place was the day they started bringing building materials, this left us with suspicious that there is a fifth columnist.

Fourteen Isoko landlords were affected,we have not recovered from the shock.We have elderly people of over eighty (80) years that were affected, we have widows that were affected,the shock even contributed to the death of one of our member, his name is Mr Gifts Ologbo .

It is more of a war like situation, they came with armed mobile police that were firing gun shots to the air to scare people. Some of these men alighted from a Lagos State Government Bus with the inscription of Lagos State Building, Control Agency. Pandemonium break loose and people started running Helter skelter and the bulldozer right in our eyes started pulling down our homes . it’s the greatest Injustice ever inflicted on law-abiding citizens who slept as landlords but became homeless in the morning. It is the worst experience in my life.

The Kabiyesi, Oba the traditional ruler Ojomu family the land belong to and enjoy the tenancy of the agreement reached is helpless as he didn’t merit any explanation from the evaders. All concerted effort from our lawyer, Rotimi Williams Chambers is yet to get a positive response or why such Injustice was pepertuated by the government or few individuals who are determined to inflict pains on the innocents.

We are Nigerians, we are law abiding citizens, nobody manufacture land , we didn’t wake up one day to take possession of other people land or destroy properties worth billions of naira only to be so dastardly to illegally carry out such without recourse to law or the people.

We are appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to right this wrong too many. We lost everything we have worked for, we lost love one’s, the culprits must be figured out. Justice must not be delayed.