On Thursday, a wave of outrage ensued as authorities from the Ogun State Government initiated the demolition of homes in the Ajegunle/Araromi community located in Makun along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. In response to this government action, residents from the Sagamu Local Government Area expressed their opposition, vocalizing their discontent and anguish through anti-governmental chants.
Awakening to the clamor of bulldozers, community members witnessed the arrival of officials from the state Bureau of Lands and Survey, accompanied by armed policemen, as they dismantled various structures. Notably, a hotel and approximately ten houses bore the brunt of this demolition.
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Residents, caught off guard by the lack of prior notice, voiced their grievances, asserting that the government had demolished their homes after selling their land to a Chinese company for industrial purposes without providing any compensation. Holding placards with messages such as “Ajegunle, Araromi community must exist, please save our soul,” “Dapo Abiodun, save us, respect court injunction,” and “We have nowhere to go,” the protesting residents sought to draw attention to their plight.
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Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Oduwole Olusoga, the legal adviser to the community, lamented that the government had ignored a court injunction that prohibited the demolition. He revealed that despite numerous interventions and the existence of a court order, the government proceeded with the destruction of their houses.
The protesters alleged that the Chinese buyer, who acquired the land, had claimed influence in the governor’s re-election and confidently asserted that they could not prevent the demolition. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, the government took this drastic step, demolishing properties and destroying multimillion-dollar investments.
Emphasizing their desire for the return of their land rather than compensation, the residents decried the lack of notification and communication from the government before the destruction of their structures. Multiple letters to the governor’s office and the Bureau of Lands apparently went unanswered.
When approached for comment, the Director General of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, Segun Fowora, declined to provide information, stating that the government would address the press at an appropriate time.
