Banana Island residents resist Army’s trespass on their land 

Residents of Banana Island Estate,  Lagos State, on Saturday disrupted an attempt by the Nigerian Army to take over the estate’s children’s playground and the adjoining recreational area to create an access to an “Apple island” being promoted by some private groups working with the Army’s properties limited, NAPL.

The first indication of trouble was noticed on Friday when a detachment of soldiers was sent to the  estate to take position at the estate gate as well as the piece of land which had been earmarked for the estate’s Boat Club House.

The soldiers dismantled the sign board erected by the residents’ association and erected another sign on the property.

On Saturday, another set of soldiers and mobile policemen arrived the estate early in the morning to secure the estate ahead of the planned arrival of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai.

When the army chief arrived minutes afternoon, he was met by a delegation of angry residents and property owners who denounced the invasion by soldiers and went on to painstakingly presented their case.

The protest by the residents while vocal, was peaceful during the entire period the army chief spent in the estate.

Chairman of the residents’ association, Charles Ubosi, expressed surprise that the army and  their representatives sought to forcibly enter the estate, take over private property and build an access to a massive development of 43 hectares to emerge from the waters off the estate.

He said that the residents of the estate were at alert the day they noticed detachment of soldiers  around the estate without any consultation with property owners.

“If allowed, the army will go ahead to build a highway and thoroughfare right in the middle of the estate, deny children of their playground, and open the estate to yet un-estimated environmental degradation that will follow the displacement of water from a patch as massive as 43 hectares,” he contested.

General Burutai who apparently had not been properly briefed, was accommodating and refraining from going ahead with the elaborate arrangements that had been made for him by leaders of NAPL.

The army boss assured the residents and property owners that the army will not forcibly take any private property and directed his men to seek an alternative access to the planned island.

As a mark of respect for the concerns of the property owners and residents, General Burutai suspended  cutting the tape that had been provided for him to inaugurate the Apple Island project and signal the formal commencement of work.

He also directed his men to put back the estate sign board that they removed.

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