On Wednesday, a group of civil society organisations peacefully protested in Lagos over the alleged unlawful relocation of landowners and inhabitants in Okun Ajah, a neighbourhood purportedly impacted by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The demonstration according to reports took place at the Federal Ministry of Works’ annex office in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
One of their members, Obanla, was purportedly detained during the coastal highway project’s land clearance activity, and the organisation requested his immediate release.
Shina Loremikan, the coordinator of the alliance, bemoaned what he described as a pattern of intimidation by the private developers conducting the project and government authorities.
He stated that Obanla was abducted by military personnel at one of the disputed areas, the Winhomes project site.
He alleged that, “The current realignment of the coastal highway has led to mass displacement without adequate consultation or compensation. We are not comfortable with the masking of land grabbing as national infrastructure development and using state apparatus to intimidate and dispossess lawful landowners.”
“The minister and his agents are using government power to oppress the people. What is happening in Okun Ajah is not just development, it’s a calculated dispossession of citizens from their ancestral lands,”
Regarding Obanla’s whereabouts, Loremikan stated that he had not been found since his arrest and that every attempt to find him had been unsuccessful.
He issued a warning that more demonstrations, including petitions to the military authorities, would follow if Obanla was not freed.
He said, “Since that day, no one from his family, friends, or members of the community has seen or heard from him. We have visited several police stations and the state command, but they all deny having him in custody.”
“As we speak, there is a simultaneous protest happening in Abuja. This impunity must stop. No one has the legal authority to abduct a citizen simply for speaking the truth,” Loremikan added.
Declaring that the demonstration was not only about their incarcerated colleague but also a larger demand to preserve the rights of all impacted communities, the demonstrators pledged to continue their campaign until justice is served.
The alliance further listed their requests in a petition that they delivered to the ministry as part of their protest.
These included restitution for losses, justice for displaced residents, and an end to what they called “militarised evictions.”
After receiving the petition, a minister for works representative promised the demonstrators that their complaints will be passed along to the proper authorities.
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