As they marched close, armed with placards with various inscriptions, their faces said it all. They are frustrated and helpless. The only hope they have is the Lagos state government led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The residents of Oko Addo village, a community in Eti-Osa local government area of the state no longer sleep comfortably. They only could stage a protest within the community against one retired Brigadier-General Tunde Reis who they alleged has taken over their lands and houses.
The residents said it is now very difficult for them to live without fear of a possible attack
Among the placards read inscriptions which included, “Please, save, protect and preserve our inheritance,” “Save us from Brigadier-General Reis,” “Why should we be rendered homeless,” “Gen Reis, stay away from our land,” “Our land is not up for grabs, we intend to keep it for our use,” " Gen Reis stop the demolition on our land," among others.
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The residents, who said they had earlier gone to court on the matter, claimed that many of the houses in the community had been demolished by Gen Reis and some people working for him. They claimed further that they now live in fear of attack as they are convinced that their lives and properties are no longer safe.
Speaking with NAIJ.com on the matter, Fidelis Akra, who is the lawyer to the Igbaro Oteshade Royal Family of Oko Addo believed to be the beneficial owner of the vast area of land, said Gen Reis, under the auspices of Urban Cooperative Society, Badore, sometime ago showed up with an allocation document which purportedly showed that his allocation has encroached on about eight hectares of the land belonging to the Igbaro Oteshade Royal Family.
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The legal practitioner added that all effort to resolve the matter had been frustrated by Gen Reis who, he claimed, has resorted to brute force to harass and intimidate residents of the community as well as demolish their houses and fences er*cted on the large expanse of land. He appealed to the Lagos state government to stop what he called an illegality and call Gen Reis to order as well as nullify the purported allocation which encroaches on their land.
Some of the affected residents demonstrating
The traditional head of the community, Baale Olayiwola Lawal, also explained that Gen Reis had often threatened the residents with guns and thugs and had boasted that nobody could arrest him. “He has continued to boast that no policeman can arrest him. We know we don't have power like him but all we are asking is for him to vacate our land because we have no intention to forfeit our sole inheritance."
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One of the protesters, who is a resident in the community, Barrister Felix Nwangwa, said that Gen Reis has unlawfully and maliciously destroyed properties within the community, claiming that the army general is not only attempting to erect structures on the land but also unlawfully creating access road with the aid of fully armed policemen as well as fierce looking touts who are always wielding lethal weapons.
Another resident of the community, Prince Malik Eshinlokun recalled how one of the residents was arrested in by some police task force who came with Gen Reis and was not released until 1am the following day. "Brigadier-General Reis has carved a niche for himself as not only a land grabber but also one with a penchant for violence as he is easily given to willfully destroying people's property with a view to forcefully and unlawfully acquiring same. But he will not have his way this time," he added.
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Attempts to speak with Brigadier-General Reis on the matter were unsuccessful as his two mobile lines were switched off.
Meanwhile, residents of Otodo Gbame in the state have continued to lament the demolition and taking over of the place they called home. Watch a video below:
