Landlords, many of whom are retirees, have raised the alarm over the illegal demolition of their homes at Wood Island Estate in the Ishawo area of Ikorodu, Lagos. The affected individuals, who have been living peacefully in the community for over two decades, are now calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as the Inspector-General of Police and military authorities, to intervene. They allege that their properties were destroyed by suspected land grabbers with the support of law enforcement personnel.
The demolition, which took place last September, has left the retirees and their families without shelter, prompting them to speak out about what they describe as harassment and intimidation. These landlords had invested their life savings, including gratuities from retirement, into purchasing the land and constructing homes, only to see their properties reduced to rubble with no prior warning.
The community of Wood Island Estate had been a peaceful one for the majority of its residents, many of whom are retirees who worked hard to acquire land and build homes for themselves and their families. However, this tranquility was disrupted in September of last year when individuals claiming to be the new owners of the land arrived in the community. The newcomers insisted that they were reclaiming ancestral land, and began threatening the residents with eviction.
One of the affected landlords, Sanni Gerard, shared his experience with journalists. Gerard, who had bought his land in 2014, revealed that he had paid a substantial sum of money to gain access to the property, which was still under development at the time. After fulfilling his payment, he began building his home with his gratuity from retirement. Unfortunately, this investment was soon destroyed when his house, along with many others, was demolished without notice.
“I bought my land in 2014. I was told to pay some amount before I could access it because it was still under construction. But after payment, I discovered it was demolished alongside several others. I was building it with my gratuity,” Gerard said.
The destruction of over 100 homes in the area has left the affected families in despair. Some houses were completely demolished, while others still under construction were also reduced to rubble. Many of the residents were forced out of their homes without warning, further fueling the community’s sense of injustice.
The retirees and other residents have alleged that the demolition was carried out with the help of law enforcement agents, who were reportedly used by the suspected land grabbers to intimidate the residents. These allegations have added to the growing sense of frustration and helplessness among the affected families. The victims claim that some of the land grabbers are boasting of their connections within the police, leading to fears that they may be immune to any legal consequences.
The Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA) in the area, Adekunle Adeiga, spoke about the series of events that led to the destruction. Adeiga recounted that the alleged land grabbers had come into the community in September, claiming ownership of the land. They convened a meeting with the residents to discuss the issue, but when asked for legal documents to support their claims, they failed to present any.
“They told us at a meeting held to iron out the issues, that they were reclaiming their father’s property. Later, I noticed that people started complaining that their buildings were being destroyed at Wood Island. I called the chairman representing Wood Island, but all of them denied that. I don’t know how they did it, but about 50 to 70 houses, including uncompleted ones, were demolished,” Adeiga said.
The suspected land grabbers claimed that they had obtained a court injunction to authorize the demolition. However, when they were asked to produce any court papers, they failed to do so, and instead promised that their lawyer would provide the necessary documents. According to the affected residents, the lawyer later denied having any such documents.
“The reason they gave was that they got an injunction granting them ownership of the land. But when they were requested to bring the court papers to that effect, at a meeting in Oke Oko, they could not present any,” Adeiga explained. “Rather, they said their lawyer would provide it, but the lawyer told us that he was not in possession of any paper.”
The lack of legal documentation to support the land grabbers’ actions has further fueled suspicions that the demolitions were carried out illegally, and that the perpetrators are acting with impunity.
In addition to the accusations against the land grabbers, the Coordinator of the Arugbo Odo/Aboki Lawal family, which sold the land to the affected homeowners, has denied any knowledge of a court order or legal action against his family. The Arugbo Odo/Aboki Lawal family, according to their spokesperson, was declared the rightful owner of the Owutu land by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1904.
“I was not aware of any court order against my family,” said Mr. Eniran Orisan, the family’s Coordinator. “The Arugbo Odo/Aboki Lawal were adjudged the rightful owners of the entire Owutu land in 1904 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
While Orisan acknowledged the intervention of the police in arresting two individuals connected to the demolition, he has called for a full investigation into the matter. He also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. According to Orisan, one of the alleged culprits has been openly boasting about his connections with the police, claiming that he is untouchable.
“I commend the Police authorities in Abuja for the intervention so far, which led to the arrest of two persons, but I call on the IGP to institute an investigative team to arrest the perpetrators of the demolition,” Orisan said. “One of the alleged perpetrators is boasting of being untouchable, claiming he has the Police in his pocket.”
In light of the ongoing crisis, the affected landlords and residents are calling on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene and put an end to what they describe as illegal land grabbing and demolition. They also want the police and military authorities to take decisive action to prevent further harassment and intimidation by those behind the demolitions.
The residents of Wood Island Estate are determined to see justice done, and they are now hoping that the government and law enforcement agencies will step in to protect their rights and restore peace to their community.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the state government will intervene, or if further escalations will take place. For now, the affected retirees and homeowners are left without their homes, fighting for the return of what they consider their rightful properties.
