The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council has condemned in strong terms the attacks on residents of Journalists Estate, Arepo Ogun State by Beachland Estate Residents Association (BERA) members and the Olu of Arepo, Oba Atanda Oyebi, over the years.
The Chairman of Lagos NUJ, Mr Adeleye Ajayi said on Thursday that there was need for the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to speedily intervene in the crisis.
Ajayi noted that immediate intervention by the Ogun State Government would prevent a breakdown of law and order in the Estate and would also prevent miscreants from perpetrating evil under any guise.
Earlier on Wednesday, the residents of Journalists Estate Phase One Arepo, under the auspices of Journalists’ Estate Residents Development Association (JERDA Phase 1) sent a Save Our Souls Message to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his intervention.
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A statement made available to newsmen by Mrs Olufunke Fadugba, Chairman JERDA Phase 1 and Mr Toye Olori, General Secretary, JERDA Phase 1 in Arepo, Ogun State, noted that the threats had now turned to direct invasion with regular invasion of the estate by BERA members.
“On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, over 50 BERA residents, led by one Mr. Emmanuel Akudinobi, including some chiefs from the palace of the Olu of Arepo, invaded our estate and destroyed our entrance arc, located at the point of security access into our estate.
“After an initial discussion to prevent the destruction, it was jointly agreed to meet with the traditional ruler later in the day to discuss the issues and resolve the matter amicably,’’ the statement read.
According to the statement, it took a strong restraint of JERDA members and some elders in the estate, for the invasion not to degenerate into full-blown skirmish.
“However, after a while, thugs, armed with cudgels, in company of some chiefs and the said Emmanuel Akudinobi, came back from the palace of the Olu of Arepo, where they boasted to have received the order to destroy the arc installed by JERDA Phase 1 with millions of Naira belonging to our members.
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“They first set about the arc with axes and diggers, to weaken the foundation and seeing that it was not bulging, they then drove an Ayab Truck over it to bring it down violently.
The new arc was installed on Tuesday, February 7, 2022, with due notice to relevant authorities, including the Police at Warewa Police station and the Ogun State Ministry of Works as well as Ministry of Physical Planning.
“The chiefs, who accompanied the crowd of thugs, openly boasted that the Olu of Arepo gave BERA members and his chiefs the directive that the arc should be destroyed.
“The reason given, among others, was that we did not pay “homage” to the palace, before erecting the arc and that No other authority can override that of the Olu of Arepo.
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“The estate arc has been at this landmark point since the inauguration of the estate in 2003 and delineates the allocated perimeter approved by the Ogun State Government. The location of the arc also serves as a security outpost for the estate and has been instrumental in warding off security threats not only to our estate but also members of BERA,’’ the statement explained.
“We had offered joint security approaches severally in the past to achieve peaceful co-existence with our neighbours. However BERA residents have gone further to curry favour from the Olu of Arepo to frustrate every effort we have made.
The residents urged the Police to do a thorough job by bringing culprits to book, ensuring they reinstall the arc which no doubt would enhance the beauty of the road when completed by the government and guarantee safety of Journalists and their families against attacks by land grabbers aided by the traditional ruler.