CDA, homeowners beg Sanwo-Olu to save community

From Bimbola Oyesola

The Community Development Association (CDA) and homeowners in Surulere Community, Amikanle, near the Command area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, are living in fear and ruins after suspected land grabbers, popularly known as Omo Onile, allegedly invaded the neighbourhood with armed backing and began demolishing houses while demanding millions of naira from landlords.

According to the CDA chairman, Saeed Kosoko

and other residents interviewed, the ordeal of the community began on January 27, 2026, when no fewer than 300 hoodlums stormed the community, claiming they were acting on court documents from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) authorising them to collect money for “house renewal” or face demolition.

The chairman lamented that within days, the quiet residential area was turned into a landscape of shattered walls, torn roofs and displaced families. Checks indicate that at least 70 buildings including homes, shops and perimeter fences have been destroyed.

The invaders reportedly demanded between N55 million, N30 million and N15 million from property owners, depending on the size of their land. Those who failed to comply, residents said, watched bulldozers and sledgehammers reduce their investments to rubble.

One of the children of an affected landlord, who identified himself simply as Oluwafewa, told our correspondent that security operatives were present during the demolition exercise, which he said lasted about two weeks.

“The thugs asked the landlords to obtain a form, which cost N100,000. Then they demanded an initial payment of N5 million and asked them to pay the balance within two weeks,” he said. “They charged different prices for different houses. Some were asked to pay N25 million. They demanded N15 million from my parents.”

He added that the group claimed ownership of the estate. “They are Omo Onile, and they said they own the land. But the FHA has told them to desist because it didn’t authorise any demolition,” he said.

When our correspondent visited the area, policemen were seen seated nearby with patrol vehicles parked on the street, while hoodlums gathered in front of some of the demolished structures, a sight residents say deepened their sense of helplessness.

A community member, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, alleged that violence accompanied the first day of the invasion. “They beat someone who was filming them. They nearly destroyed his phone. They really dealt with us,” he said.

For some families, the crisis is not new. Another resident recounted how his uncle lost his property in the same community a decade ago under similar circumstances.

“My uncle lost his house 10 years ago after they demanded N5 million from him. He couldn’t afford it and had to forfeit the property,” he said. “This problem has existed for years, and there seems to be no solution.”

Last week, distraught residents staged a peaceful protest amid the debris of their demolished homes, carrying placards and calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other political leaders to urgently intervene.

“They mounted our buildings and removed the roofs. We have been to many offices to lodge complaints, but no help has been offered,” one protester said. “At this point, we don’t know what to do.”

An FHA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the activities of the alleged land-grabbers as illegal and said the authority had not authorised any demolition in the area.

“They were impersonating. The FHA didn’t send them,” the official said. “We wrote to the Commissioner of Police and the Lagos State Taskforce. We even sent our officials to monitor the situation, but the thugs chased them away.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she was not aware of the incident and promised to find out and revert. As of press time, further calls and messages had not been answered.

Now, with roofs ripped off and life savings buried under rubble, residents say their message to the Lagos State Government is clear: act now or risk allowing lawlessness to permanently displace an entire community.