… Residents Claim Demolition Connected to Lekki Toll Gate Shootings
Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Tasks Force, accompanied by police operatives, have burnt down a community along Foreshore Road in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The aggrieved residents alleged that the demolition was in connection to their witnessing of the October 20 shooting at the Lekki Tollgate.
A News medium, Premium Times, reported that the residents had told them, during their investigation, that it was the soldiers, alongside police operatives from Maroko Police Division, who opened fire on the protesters.
On the demolition, the residents of the community said policemen and some officials of the environmental task force, arrived at the community on Tuesday and told them to vacate their residences within 24 hours.
The residents, who pleaded anonymity, said they were still trying to gather their belongings on Wednesday morning when a contingent of taskforce officials and mobile policemen began the demolition.
“People were scared and thought they were going to be arrested and ran towards the lagoon where they sustain deep cuts in their legs from broken bottles that were discarded there,” one resident said.
Another resident said he and other residents were stopped and searched by the policemen who claimed they were looking for weapons hidden in the shanties.
He also said the policemen mocked residents of the shanty for participating in the protest and “for speaking to the media” after the indiscriminate shooting of peaceful protesters at the tollgate.
When reached for comment, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce, Taofeek Adebayo, said he would respond as soon as possible. He is yet to give his response, after being enquired upon.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, said he was not aware of the demolition but promised to find out. He is also yet to revert on this.
Since his administration commenced, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has demolished thousands of illegal structures, including shanties, which are in violation of the city’s masterplan. According to the Governor, his agenda is hinged upon transforming the state into a functional and efficient model Mega-City.
