Over 15,000 residents of Atinporome, Araromi Ale and Mowo Phase 11 communities near Badagry, have been under nightmare since Saturday that they received a letter from Lagos police command warning them of encroaching into its land.
Their nightmare became real yesterday morning as over six bulldozers and about 250 heavily armed policemen arrived the communities and demolished their houses.
They were not allowed to move their belongings before the bulldozers rolled in. Some children were forcefully woken up from sleep.
The scene was pathetic as mothers, children, fathers and youths wept uncontrollably and watched helplessly as bulldozers descended on the houses.
On Saturday, the communities received a letter dated December 14, 2103 signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) F. G. Ogundeji for the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command and addressed to Chief Joshua Medepo, the Baale of Atinporome, entitled, “Encroachment on Police land located at Agemowo/Agelado Mowo via Badagry.”
The letter claimed that the land was allocated to Nigeria Police by the Lagos State Government for police housing units with Certificate of Occupancy No 33/33/2009.
Speaking to Daily Sun before the demolition, the Baale and Atinporome Community Development Association (CDA) chairman, Mr. Adu Charles faulted the claim of the police.
According to them, this land that these three communities reside is not part of Agemowo/Agelado Mowo, which the police said Lagos State government gave them.
“From the letter, they said we have encroached on police land located at Agemowo/ Agelado Mowo but this land we are is not Agemowo/Agelado Mowo, but Atinporome, Araromi Ale and Mowo Phase 1. The land they are talking about is the other side of Badagry Expressway. We don’t know their interest here.”
it's a pity! God help us....
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