Residents carry their belongings during the demolition in Otumara neighbourhood in Lagos, on March 7, 2025. (Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP)
The apex socio-cultural organisation and umbrella body of Ilaje nations, the Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, has described the demolition of over 500 houses in Ilaje Otumara community, in the Mainland Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State, as a form of ethnic cleansing, which will be resisted at all costs.
The body, which revealed this on Wednesday at a press conference addressed by the President-General of the group, Prince Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu, to register their displeasure at the way and manner in which over 500,000 people were displaced in the Mainland Local Council area of Lagos State, said the leadership of the group has gathered that the same treatment given to Ilaje Otumara community will be extended to all Ilaje communities in the state, especially Ijora Badia, Iwaya, Makoko, Ayetoro, Orioke Alala, Bariga, Ajah-Lekki, and Itedo community, among others.
He said, “The root of this illegal demolition started on February 11, 2025, when officials of the state government came to Otumara community with armed policemen and some area boys. They told the residents to leave the community within three days without prior notice.
“In response to this threat of ejection and demolition, members of the community, in large numbers, protested to the Governor’s office at Alausa on February 12, 2025, where the Governor, through his representative, denied being aware of any impending demolition in Otumara community and assured that the people should go about their lawful activities.”
He regretted that between March 7 and 10, the agents succeeded in demolishing all the houses in the community, noting that they had reliably gathered that the same treatment would be given to other Ilaje communities in Lagos State.
He said, “It will equally interest you to know that the Otumara community land is already subject to litigation in Suit No. LD/4292/LMN/17 and Suit No. 25126/2017 before Hon. Justice Sule-Amsat of High Court 2, Sabo, Lagos, filed by Oloto Ruling House against Otumara Community, and the next adjournment date for trial is May 7, 2025.
“Despite the pendency of this case before a court of competent jurisdiction, the Special Adviser to the Governor and other officials, in conjunction with HRM Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya, the Oloto of Otto Kingdom, proceeded with the demolition, backed by fully armed policemen and some known thugs.”
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police and other relevant heads of security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter, with a view to bringing all perpetrators to book and preventing the breakdown of law and order.
He added, “In the same vein, we are calling on the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to create an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp with adequate relief materials to ameliorate the condition of the victims of the illegal demolition.”
