Slum dwellers from Otodo Gbame community in Lagos and neighbouring communities have rained curses on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over the demolition of their houses last week.
NAIJ.com had reported that the people’s houses were torched by police officers who stormed their residents on Wednesday, November 9 with bulldozers as well.
The people, numbering over 30,000 had since been rendered homeless and useless after their shanties were destroyed, leaving them with no option than to leave their houses on water with their boats.
“In the early morning hours of 9 October 2016, a gang of boys with reported ties to the powerful Elegushi Chieftaincy Family, entered Otodo Gbame community – a peaceful fishing settlement on the edge of the Lagos Lagoon in Lekki Phase I, made up predominantly of Eguns and other ethnic minorities in Lagos – and began setting fire to houses in the community,”. we had reported.
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As evening fell in Otodo Gbame, tens of thousands of residents; some newly homeless and some terrified but lucky to still have their homes, tried to get some rest after the wearying day.
JEI-trained paralegals had delivered a copy of the subsisting injunction to the local Ilasan Divisional Police Station to ensure their awareness and pasted the order around the community.
It was also gathered that the demolition exercise continued into the midnight and early hours of Thursday, November 10, as bulldozers reportedly started destroying the remaining houses which their fire could not effectively pull down.
But on Tuesday, November 15, the residents stormed the governor’s office, demanding an address of the issue in which about 50 people were reportedly dead. And they rained series of curses on the governor as they lamented the hardship which they have been thrown into.
Below are photos and video from the massive protest in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon:
We are ready to die here, the residents of Otodo Gbame said as they stormed the governor’s office. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
“Eviction is not the change we voted for,” the residents remind Governor Ambode.
The people were very livid as they stormed the governor’s office. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Even students were part of the protest on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 15. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Pregnant women and nursing mothers were part of the protest in Lagos on Tuesday. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
This young man was reportedly stabbed in the back during the demolition. The mother laments bitterly about the incident.
Without any fear, the people stormed the main gate of the Lagos House, Ikeja. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
A pregnant woman suddenly fainted during the protest and the people tried frantically to revive her. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
These women kept groaning as they raised their hands up to plead with the governor to come to their aide. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
These women are really unhappy with the present situation in their residents. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
The woman on blue lost her child during the demolition and has her one-month old baby with her on the street. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
This boy looks at his mother in awe as they remained on the streets to protest against the government’s destruction of their houses. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
These displaced children were on the streets as their parents continued with the protest. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
These students advised the governor to upgrade the slums and stop forced evictions. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
This woman has a hand on one of her eyes as she continues with the protest on the street. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
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