By Monsuru Olowoopejo

A cross section of residents of Ijora-Badia East in Lagos was thrown into confusion last Friday, following the demolition of their houses, based on a 2014 court judgment.

The residents said that the court had proclaimed the Ojora of Ijora, Fatai Aromire Oba winner in a case filed by four of the residents challenging an order of the Oba asking them to vacate their land.

Ijora Badia demolition

When Vanguard visited the area, the affected the residents were seen trying to salvage some of their property from the wreckage.

They lamented that they were given only 24 hours notice before the commencement of the demolition exercise involving some 500 houses with well over 1,000 residents rendered homeless.

One of the displaced residents, Miss Nimota Adekanle, said she was not aware of any court rulings saying that their houses should be demolished.

According to her, “we saw a bulldozer in our community early this morning and when we asked what it was meant for, the driver said it was brought to complete the ongoing drainage work in the community. But we were surprised when they started demolishing every property in the community.”

Arguing that the demolition exercise violates the fundamental human rights of the residents, counsel to the displaced persons, Mrs. Megan Chapman, said that the Oba did not adhere to the contents of the court ruling which ordered the demolition of only four listed property in the case.