Group besieges Lagos Assembly over demolition of Ilaje communities

Scores of placards wielding group of protesters- Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide on Tuesday registered their plights at the Lagos State House of Assembly, with a petition on the alleged constant demolition of communities belonging to Ilaje residents in the state.

In the boldly inscribed placards the protesters laid bare their frustrations, citing the historical contributions of their forebares to make the locations in question which were formerly coast lines habitable, while adding that they were migrants like many other settlers in Lagos and so they ought to be treated fairly.

The placards read,“Egbe Omo Ilaje called for adequate compensation for the duty of illegal demolition,” “Save Oworo, our land is bleeding, our people are dying, save our souls,” “Sanwo-Olu save us from land grabbers,” and “If it’s truly a democracy, then every right must be respected, no institution must violate humans.”

In the petition presented by the Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide’s President Prince Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu dated August 18, 2025 and addressed to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, was titled; “Petition Against Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya,the Oloto Of Otto, LASBCA and others, and signed by Prince Iwamitigha Irowainu, President Omo Ilaje Worldwide

The group stated that “the route to the illegal demolition started on February 11, 2025 when Mr. Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) came to Otumara Community with armed police officers with some area boys and told the members of the Community to leave within three days without prior notice.

“In response to this threat of ejection and demolition, members of the Community in large number protested to the Governor’s office at Alausa on February 12, 2025 where your excellency denied anything of such nature through your representative that your office was not aware of any intending demolition of Otumara Community and our people should go about their lawful activities.”

They recalled that again on Sunday February 18, 2025, “Dr. Olajide Abiodun Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS, Physical and Urban Development came to Otumara Community in accompany of Mr. Gbolahan Oki with armed police officers and some known thugs and area boys and further threatened that the residents of Otumara Community should vacate immediately as Lagos State Government has decided to demolish the Community.”

Residents of Otumara Community were however, advised to go and see Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya, the Oloto of Otto if they want the demolition of Otumara Community to be halted.

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“Sir, it will interest you to know that the Otumara Community land is already a subject of litigation in a SUIT NO LD/4292/LMN/17 and SUIT NO 25/26/2017 before Hon Justice Sule – Amsat of High Court 2 Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, instituted by the Oloto Ruling House against Baale Festus O. Arowojolu and Arowojolu Family of Otumara Community and the next adjournment date for trial was May 7, 2025 but these lawless people brazenly and illegally demolished Otumara Community between 7th and 10th March 7 and 20, 2025 during the pendency of the case before a competent court of law,” they said.

The Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide then demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in the illegal demolition.

They also urged the state assembly to prevent Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya and his group from doing anything on Otumara Land, and “make provision for adequate compensation for the victims of this illegal demolition.”

The group called on the Lagos State Government to provide adequate security for the protection of Ilaje Communities in Lagos State.

They also said that the state government should treat Ilajes in Lagos State as bonafide indigenes of the state, adding that “where the government failed to protect our lives and properties, for whatever reason, our people shall have no alternative other than to defend themselves.”

Jointly addressing the protesters,Hon Stephen Ogundipe representing Oshodi Isolo Constituency 1 and Hon Solomon Bonu Saanu, representing Badagry Constituency 1 , urged the protesters to desist from pointing accusing fingers but rather make proper presentation of their case for prompt attention from the state’s assembly.

They counselled further that all those involved in the matter would be invited along with their leaders in order to bring about an holistic resolution of the issues cited.