Residents of parts of Oworo, Lekki, Okun-Ajah, Alpha each, Owode, and Oworonshoki in Lagos State were thrown into chaos on Saturday as the Lagos State Government commenced the demolition of unapproved buildings and shanties.
The exercise, carried out simultaneously by the Lagos State Taskforce, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), targeted illegal structures said to violate building regulations, environmental laws, and public safety standards.
At Iyana Oworo, the operation focused on unapproved buildings constructed on sand-filled land facing the Lagoon. Officials confirmed that quit notices had been served months earlier.
Although the demolition was temporarily halted to give residents more time to remove their belongings, several structures had already been pulled down.
In Lekki, the demolition was restricted to roadside shanties alleged to be hideouts for miscreants accused of harassing motorists and violating environmental laws.
Meanwhile, in the Ojulari community of Oworonshoki, residents were left homeless after bulldozers, backed by RRS operatives, demolished residential buildings in the early hours of the morning.
The demolitions sparked outrage from residents, prompting a two-week suspension of further exercises in Oworonshoki.
The reprieve, according to government sources, is intended to allow occupants more time to evacuate their properties.
