An official says the task force obtained approval before embarking on the enforcement.

The Lagos State government has finally spoken on the demolition of the property at 1, Kuku Street, Opebi, which led to the ejection of hundreds of families and mechanics occupying the land.

In a statement released by Gbenga Omotosho, Commissioner for Information, on Sunday, the state confirmed that the Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers (LSSTF) carried out the demolition ”based on the petition received from the Meadows family, to eject the occupants of the land”.

Mr Omotosho, in the statement, said the task force obtained approval to embark on the enforcement, in conjunction with other government agencies.

He added that the demolition was an “execution of the judgement of the High Court of Lagos State”.

It’s was earlier reported how hundreds of people who resided at Monkey Village were rendered homeless and auto mechanics also dislodged from their compound at Opebi area of the state on December 31, 2020.

A bulldozer, accompanied by officials of Lagos State agencies and police officers, arrived at the scene unannounced to demolish all structures erected by the residents, destroying several properties.

The residents, who expressed trauma over the demolition narrated how they were caught by surprise as no notice was given by the state government.

Investigation

The manner in which the demolition of the property at No, 1, Kuku Street, Opebi, which was occupied by a mechanics’ association and Monkey Village, an expanse of land behind, took place prompted an investigation into the incident.

Although the exercise was carried out by government agencies, provisions for demolition exercise in the laws of the state were not followed.