June 16, 2015 – Aggrieved residents of Badagry today defied the scotching sun to protest demolition of 1, 500 structures in Badagry by the Nigerian Police Force.
Armed with placards inscribed with words like “the Lagos police command is not above the law; police should publish their Certificate of Ownership, C of O; police should vacate our land and others, ” the residents stormed Alausa, the Lagos State Government House in large numbers.
Addressing the protesters, Head of Service Lagos State, Mrs. Shade Jaji said that the happiness of residents is paramount to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.
“I want to implore you that we will look into it and make sure that justice is delivered. We will look into the records to ascertain what led to the injustice that you have alleged against the police.
“We are sorry for whatever might have happened one and half years ago. We want to assure you that aside that, we will do something to alleviate the suffering,” she added.
She noted that during the investigation, the other party would be invited to speak on the reason for their action and called on them to be patient and be law abiding citizens of Lagos State.
“Let us look at solving the issue at hand. And I want to assure you that the desired result would be achieved, ” she said.
Speaking earlier, the coordinator of the Justice and Empowerment Initiative, Ms. Megan Chapman who led the aggrieved residents lamented that the previous administration abandoned its citizens considering the huge lose they suffered through the demolition.
She noted that the ex-governor, Babatunde Fashola wasted time in addressing the issue, adding that despite the visit by the residents to alert the governor of the act, the government failed to act.
Recall that the police had on December 16th, 2013 demolished about 1,500 structures erected on 65 hectares of land in community, accusing the owners of trespassing.
We gathered that the residents had sued the Nigerian Police but the police failed to appear before the court, even as it had commenced construction of staff quarters on the disputed land.
