By Ebun Sesou & Monsur Olowoopejo

lagos—Residents of  Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa  Isolo, Lagos , yesterday stormed the State House of Assembly, protesting government’s planned demolition of over 500 shops in the estate scheduled for today.

The shops were marked for demolition last Friday by officials of  the Lagos Building Investment Company, LBIC, official owners of landed properties within the state’s residential estates .

The officials who were accompanied by armed policemen,  gave the shop owners a three-day ultimatum  to evacuate their wares, as the planned demolition begins today.

The protesting residents who called on  the state House of Assembly to prevail on the state government to stop the planned demolition ,  lamented that the action could lead to loss of livelihood , noting that majority of the shop owners were widows and  retirees. They also pointed out that the demolition exercise would increase the spate of crime in the estate.

Leader of the protesters, Chief Olawale Osanyinpeju, recalled that the estate was constructed by former governor Lateef Jakande in the 80s.

The protesters later submitted a letter dated Octobeer 31 and signed by  the President and Secretary of the Landlords’ Association of the estate  Messrs Toba Johnson and B.A Johnson respectively,  to the Assembly.