Residents of Ilameja community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State have called on the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to take urgent steps against alleged attacks by land grabbers on the community.
The residents ,who made the call at a news conference on Saturday in Lagos, said the persistent attacks on the community had left them with sad tales.
A resident, Mr Tunji Balogun, lamented that constant attacks by land grabbers had brought pains and sorrow to many residents.
Balogun, who is also the Project Director, Social Justice and Human Rights Group, a non governmental organisation, called on the state government and security agencies to act without delay to protect lives in the community.
“We are calling on Gov. Sanwo-Olu and IGP Egbetokun and other security agencies to deliver us from these attacks by land grabbers.
“Government should swiftly intervene to halt these constant attacks on our people, willful destruction of properties, forceful encroachment by these land grabbers.
“We are law -abiding and responsible people, we do not want a situation where the matter will result in clashes in the community”, he said.
Balogun also alleged that the land grabbers always attacked people working on building sites, saying many had been hospitalised owing to the injuries sustained.
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“We have so many cases of injured victims and the case of late Sodiq Kolapo, an innocent bricklayer who was shot while working as labourer on a building site. He was not only killed, his body was taken away by the land grabbers.
“Other victims like Samusideen Oluwo and Sunday Olabayo, are still nursing injuries sustained during attacks onn site.
“We want Gov. Sanwo-Olu to urgently come to our rescue before the situation becomes worse”, he pleaded.
Mrs Joke Kolapo, the wife of the late bricklayer, lamented that things had been difficult for her and the children since her husband was killed.
Kolapo noted that her husband was allegedly attacked by land grabbers at a construction site in the community, saying the assailants also took her body away.
“He was just working as bricklayer, a labourer for that matter at the site, not even an native of the land.
“I was expecting my husband to come home on that particular day and I waited till midnight, but I didn’t see him. I tried his line several times, it was not reachable.
“I later went to his friend who introduced him to the job and asked of his whereabouts.
“He told me that they were attacked by the land grabbers and my husband had been shot dead and his body taken away.
“I was shocked hearing that from him and I cried like a baby. Up till now I have not seen my husband’s body or his burial ground.
“I am a nursing mother with three children, I want the government to intervene and come to my aid and the community”, she said.
Another resident, Mr Wale Adeola stated that many residents of the community had been living in fear owing to the problem.
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