Officers of the Lagos State Command of Nigerian Police,
yesterday, demolished over 600 structures erected on 65 hectares of land in
Mowo Phase II, Badagry, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, LCDA, accusing
the owners of trespassing on its land.
Vanguard gathered that the demolition came barely two years
after the command, through the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban
Development, issued letters to the trespassers
to vacate the land to no avail.
Sources close to the police said the order to demolish the
houses was given by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Abubakar Muhammed.
When Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that the
demolition exercise was carried out by over 200 armed policemen from Area K,
led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Ekpo Osu using five bulldozers.
Our correspondent learnt that the demolition began at about
10:00 am with the aim to reclaim the land said to belong to the Police from
trespassers, who had been warned two weeks ago to vacate the land.
Land acquired 10 yrs ago
It was learnt that the 65-hectare land was acquired by the
Police about 10 years ago to build houses for senior police officers and got
the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, from the Lagos State Government in 2008.
After a few years, land speculators started encroaching on
the land when the authorities failed to develop the land for its specific
purpose.
The residents, however, argued that a case to determine the
ownership of the land was still at the Badagry High Court, Badagry.
Mr. Waheed Yakub, one of the affected residents said: “I am
yet to process my C of O but I bought the land over 10 years ago from the Opeisa family and I developed it a
year after.”
When Vanguard visited the scene, women and children wailed during
the exercise, claiming the notice was served only on Saturday, December 14,
2013.
In a telephone conversation, Baale of Atinporomeh, Chief Joshua Medepo, explained
that he was aware that some hectares of land were acquired under the government
acquisition policy for the construction of Police staff quarters.
Medepo, however, faulted claims by the Police that his
domain was part of the acquired portion just as he added that the demolition
should have stopped at Age-Mowo rather than affecting Atinporomeh.
Notice was short —Akran of Badagry
In his response, the Akran of Badagry, Wheno Aholu
Menu-Toyi, said though he was aware of the demolition, the notice given to
residents by the Police authorities was short.
According to him, “I am aware of what is going on because I
have been informed. Though the Police came around two years ago but could not
take possession because at that time, they did not have the Certificate of
Occupancy. We told them it was only when they had the C of O that they could
take possession. The demolition will not affect some areas around there.”
On the short notice given to owners of the structures on the
said land, the monarch said: “It is a difficult thing to say because about a
year or two ago, the Police had planned to take over the place but an appeal
was made to them. Though the notice given to them was very short, the notice
was served on Saturday, December 14, 2013.
“I would not want to blame anybody. Those who built on
acquired land should know, it is most unfortunate. Those who go about selling
land tell people all sorts of lies. That is all I know.”
No comments:
Post a Comment