A century-old riverside community in Lagos, Nigeria, home to more than 9,000 residents, was demolished on Friday, leaving thousands forcibly evicted.
Dozens of Lagos state officials, police officers, and “area boys” wielding machetes and clubs stormed Ilaje-Otumara in the early hours, forcing residents to flee as bulldozers flattened homes, businesses, and places of worship.
Journalists from NPR and Agence France-Presse reported witnessing state officials overseeing the eviction, as residents were beaten and driven out without their belongings. Reporters were also threatened and barred from documenting the destruction.
Mass demolitions of inner-city and waterfront communities are common in Lagos. In 2017, 30,000 residents of Otodo-Gbame were evicted despite legal prohibitions, and in 2020, nearly 5,000 people were forced out of Tarkwa Bay.
A 2017 Lagos State High Court ruling had prohibited the eviction of Ilaje-Otumara residents without an alternative settlement, deeming such actions unconstitutional and cruel. However, in February, state officials marked the community for demolition, granting residents just 15 days to vacate.
On Friday, armed men and demolition equipment arrived unannounced, leaving residents scrambling to salvage their possessions. Hundreds fled with what they could carry, leaving personal items abandoned on the roadside.
Ilaje-Otumara’s prime location near affluent waterfront areas has made it a target for real estate investors. Rights group Just Empowerment Initiative condemned the eviction, highlighting an ongoing trend of displacing riverside communities for luxury developments. Lagos’ real estate sector is worth billions, with over 40% investor-owned properties.
Residents, some with government-issued land documents, had lived in Ilaje-Otumara since 1920, spanning multiple generations. Despite expectations of relocation assistance, they were left stranded.
Albert Bamidele, a 30-year resident, lamented the inhumane treatment: “They arrived with bulldozers, giving us no time. Beating people, carrying weapons. We weren’t even resisting, just asking for dignity.”
Adeto Banbade, 62, who lived with her children and elderly mother, was devastated. “I’ve never slept on the street, but now, in my twilight years, this is my reality.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
