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By Janet Okoronkwo
The Isokan Mechanic Village Phase 1 Association, Oladun Road, in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to forcibly evict artisans from their business premises, warning that the situation could escalate into violence if the government fails to intervene urgently.
The Association has appealed to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene and halt what it described as attempts by the Chairman of Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Idris Balogun, to take over land currently occupied by artisans at the Isokan Mechanic Village.
According to the Association, the disputed land lies under a powerline corridor and was officially allocated to mechanics, block makers and other artisans by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation. Members of the Association claimed they have occupied the land for over 20 years and paid annual rent to the Lagos State Government, with documents to support their claims.
It warned that the dispute evokes memories of a similar incident in 2016, when the area was allegedly taken over by force and shops were constructed under the powerline. The shops were later demolished by the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, an operation that reportedly resulted in the death of more than five people amid chaos at the site.
Speaking with journalists during the week, Chairman of the association, Mr. Adeleke Odufeko, accused the LCDA chairman of persistently harassing artisans in the area. He alleged that Balogun, who is related to a late traditional ruler in the community, had a history of laying claim to the land even before assuming office as the LCDA chairman.
Mr. Odufeko further alleged that prior to becoming council chairman, Balogun collected an annual levy of ₦250,000 from the Mechanic Village.
“When the harassment became unbearable, we approached the court to determine the rightful ownership of the land; whether it belongs to the Isokan Mechanic Village Phase 1 Association or to the family of the late king, including Idris Balogun.
“That case is still pending and we were advised that all parties should maintain the status quo. Despite this, the council chairman has continued to intimidate and harass artisans in the village,” Odufeko said
He also alleged that attempts to seek police intervention yielded no relief, despite presenting documents backing the association’s claims.
He further claimed that Balogun had recently announced that he received approval from Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Bolaji Orelope-Adefulire and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, to demolish the existing artisans’ shops and replace them with council-owned shops.
He alleged that the council chairman, accompanied by suspected thugs and some military personnel, visited the Mechanic Village on two occasions within a week, demanding that artisans should vacate the land.
“We have documents from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation showing that this land was allocated to us and we pay rent to the state government every year,” Mr. Odufeko said. “If the state government, which owns the land, has not asked us to leave, why should a council chairman force us out?”
Expressing fears of a possible breakdown of law and order, Mr. Odufeko appealed to the state government to urgently intervene.
“This Mechanic Village is our daily bread and our means of survival. We are calling on the Governor to step in and stop this harassment. You cannot just take over land because you are a council chairman,” he said.
The Association called on the Lagos State Government to act swiftly, as it reportedly did in the past, to prevent violence and avert another potential tragedy on the disputed land.
