The community of Odo Ogbe in Onike Yaba, Lagos, was plunged into disarray when the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) allegedly demolished several buildings. This action occurred less than a day after the structures had been marked for demolition, leaving residents bewildered and distraught.
The demolition, which took place on December 8, 2023, saw the destruction of numerous homes, including the residence of an 85-year-old architect, Sunday Kukoyi, whose entire building was razed. The Guardian reported that the marking of the buildings occurred on December 7, at approximately 5:30 p.m., with the demolition following swiftly the next day around 2:05 p.m.
Eyewitnesses recounted the arrival of LASBCA officials, flanked by members of the Lagos State police task force and anti-riot officers. Adesegun, the son of the elderly architect, described the harrowing experience: “I received a call at work about the LASBCA officials’ arrival. When I returned, I found them marking our building. The following morning, they returned with force, breaking into our home and commencing demolition. In the chaos, we scrambled to salvage our belongings, but many items, including our television and laptops, were destroyed.”
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The Odo Ogbe community was left reeling from the incident, which spanned a mere two hours but inflicted lasting trauma and stress. Residents were not provided with any explanation or notice, leading to calls for an investigation and accountability.
Another affected resident, Tony Fasanmi, expressed his dismay: “I discovered my building had been marked upon returning home. The next day, it was demolished under the watch of anti-riot police. We are now homeless and urgently require government intervention.”
When approached for comment, LASBCA‘s Public Relations Officer, Olaoye Olusegun, stated, “I am not aware of the demolition. I will investigate the action.”
The sudden and unexplained demolition has sparked outrage among the residents of Odo Ogbe, who are now demanding answers and justice from the Lagos State government.
Source: The Guardian