Ebute-Metta residents drag government to court over unlawful demolitions

Stanley Ihedigbo

Ebute-Metta community in Lagos has been rocked by a series of demolitions since March 2024, leaving scores of families displaced and their homes reduced to rubble.

These forced evictions, executed without prior notice, adequate compensation, or relocation alternatives, have drawn widespread concern over their legality and disregard for basic human rights.

In response to these unlawful actions, and with the support of the Communities’ Alliance against Displacement (CAD) and Spaces for Change (S4C), the resilient residents of Ebute-Metta are taken legal action to challenge the violations.

The matter was taken to the Federal High Court in Lagos, demanding justice, accountability, and respect for their constitutional rights.

The case is being closely watched, as it represents a major test of the Nigerian government’s commitment to due process and the protection of urban poor communities.

Affected residents have shared their stories of loss and struggle, highlighting the devastating impact of the demolitions on their lives.

The community is seeking justice, protection, and recognition, and their fight is seen as a battle for the right of every citizen to live without fear, to be treated with dignity, and to be heard in a system that often ignores the voices of the vulnerable.

The case has drawn attention to the plight of urban poor communities in Lagos and the need for greater protection and respect for their rights.

Speaking with journalists, they lamented,” Today is the first mention of the case. Unfortunately, on getting to court, we were told that the court was on strike and the case would not be held as scheduled.

“But that is not stopping us, that is not dampening our spirit. The community is still very much resilient and also determined to follow this case to the very end. And to ensure that due process justice and accountability are being served”, they stressed.

The community compares; Toluwani CDA. Ifesowapo and Ifeoluwa community development areas.

One of the community leaders, explained,” We have been in that land since 1994. When it got to a certain stage, when the former governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola came in 2010, we went to court. By the time they were going to round up the issue, the magistrate said that we should go and settle.

“After settling that year, we now started building it again. Suddenly on March 7, 8, 9… Those 3 days were brutal in the community. Some hoodlums, more than 1,000, with arms and ammunition., descended on us, and caused havoc. They made sure nobody was able to snap, or
video the damage. Since then, no government intervention. No local government intervention. Nobody pays us a visit in the community. And every day all those hoodlums used to come to the community to be threatening us.

“Intimidate, and loot from us. Now, we sleep outside in the rain. Nothing is done. The threat is out of hand,” he lamented.

Secretary of Toluwani CDA, Baruwa Ramota appealed to the federal government, the state government and some other people to come to their aid and rescue them from these hoodlums.

“All these land grabbers. Because we are the citizens. We are well registered under the state government.
Why are they intimidating us like this? After the demolition, we still built some little little houses. We are bending down to enter the small house. They still come there and demolish it again and set fire.

“Please they should help us. We are here again to come and appeal to the federal government to help us from these people.

“Since that period, they have not been going to school. We are not selling, we are not doing anything. Nothing is going on there. We’re sleeping outside during the rainy season, during the winter, everything. We are outside. Nowhere to sleep again. All these guys, they’re just calling us to threaten us that we’re coming on Monday o. We’re coming with the task force, they will chase us away o. We should vacate. They don’t want to see anybody. Everybody will be panicking. We don’t have anything. We don’t have anywhere to go,” the secretary further appealed.