Ladipo market land feud deepens as family demolishes houses, churches

THE fragile peace existing at Odo Aladura Community section of the popular Ladipo auto-parts market at Toyota bus stop, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was yesterday threatened when a member of the Owoyemi family accompanied by a detachment of policemen from Area D command, Mushin, stormed the market and demolished houses and churches in the Odo shanty settlement.

The Owoyemi family, who arrived with thugs popularly called Ajagun-gbale (land grabbers), starting demolishing some residential buildings, including churches erected along the border of the canal beside OK Foods. The demolition led to the disruption of a planned naming ceremony in the community. This was coming barely 24 hours after a Lagos High Court, Ikeja on Tuesday ruled against the Owoyemi family’s application contesting the payment of interest on cost incurred during the trial of the matter.

Youth leader of Odor Aladura Community, Olaoluwa Johnson, said the action was a total disregard of the court and rule of law since the matter is still pending in court. According to him, apart from the civil matter pending at the Lagos High Court, there was also a human rights violation case against the assailants, following previous demolitions that occurred in the community. He also alleged connivance with traders and police authorities saying it was worrisome that the police are giving legitimacy to the illegal act.

Johnson traced the incident to an attempt by the Owoyemi family, whom they have lived peacefully with as neighbours since 1978 until some time in 1996 when the Owoyemis allegedly asked them to sell their own portion of land to them having sold theirs to a biscuit manufacturing company. He urged the state government to intervene to arrest the illegality in order to forestall any threat to peace in the area.