By Esther Onyegbula

Residents of Ijedodo community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State have protested the invasion of their community land by suspected land grabbers posing as officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Led by the Baale, High Chief Abu Jelili Ayinde-Ododo, the residents marched on the streets with placards bearing different inscriptions, lamenting the demolition of their properties by unknown developers under the guise of the “New FESTAC Development Property”.

One of the estates demolished by the suspected land grabbers is the multi-billion Naira estate developed by members of the Ndigbo Buru’Otu Association of Nigeria, an Igbo association that acquired vast land for its members to build on about five years ago.

Members of the association were shocked on Thursday, March 24, 2024, when demolition was being carried out on already-erected structures on their lands.

The members approached the Baale of Ijedodo, Chief Ododo, who sold the land to them, to find out if the land belonged to the FHA, but he denied knowing the reason for the demolition.

According to the association members, the land was sold to them by the Baale, who cleared all hindrances that could arise in the future, with receipts and necessary documentation to back up the land reportedly purchase legitimately.

The Federal Housing Authority declined responsibility for the demolition, leading the affected persons to call for an investigation into the matter.

Baale Ododo expressed shock, stating that such incidents have never occurred in the history of the Ijedodo community. He initially believed that the FHA was behind the demolition but further investigation revealed that a developing company, New FESTAC Development Property, was responsible.

He said a petition had been filed at Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, over the demolition, “but the perpetrators have reportedly not shown up. They remain faceless, only reappearing on people’s lands to terrorize landowners at vulnerable times.

Ododo Musa, the secretary of the Ododo family, stated that the land grabbers used force and invaded the community with some armed policemen who allegedly fired indiscriminately to harass people.

Members of the Ndigbo Buru’Otu Association of Nigeria, represented by Ugochukwu Ifomadu and Chief (Mrs) Rufina Emedurunwa, expressed disappointment and loss of huge amounts of money spent on sand filling and structures on the affected lands worth billions of Naira, saying “ this may be wasted if a solution is not found.

Rufina also lamented the health-related crisis suffered by hard-working individuals who have committed their resources to provide a roof over their heads and urged the Federal Government to intervene promptly.