Residents of Mainland Foreshore in Lagos, particularly those in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, Sogunro, and Iwaya, have voiced their concerns over the ongoing dredging activities in the Lagos Lagoon. These activities, carried out by developer Femi Adelaja and his company, Floral Cobalt Limited, have severely disrupted the residents’ fishing activities, which are their primary means of livelihood.
The residents alleged that they were assaulted by thugs reportedly working for the developer, with the involvement of police officers from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Lagos State.
On Thursday, the residents took to the streets to protest, calling on the state government to step in and halt the dredging. However, their peaceful demonstration was met with arrests, raising concerns about the aggressive tactics employed by the developer’s supporters and the police.
In an interview with SaharaReporters on Thursday, lawyer Ayo Ademiluyi, Esq., who represents the protesting residents, explained that his clients had previously informed the police at the State CID, Panti, about their plans to protest. However, the police invited them for questioning based on complaints from local chiefs allegedly funded by the developer.
Ademiluyi said, “The residents of Mainland Foreshore in Lagos Lagoon are being terrorized by a developer named Femi Adelaja and his company, Floral Cobalt Limited. The dredging of the lagoon has made it nearly impossible for them to continue their fishing activities, which are essential for their survival.”
He further alleged that his clients were violently attacked by thugs working in collusion with local chiefs, who are reportedly on the developer’s payroll. He also claimed that police officers from SCIID, Panti, who are situated near the affected communities, were involved in the harassment.
“Our clients informed us that before the protest, they had notified the police at State CID, Panti, who had invited them based on complaints from the local chiefs sponsored by the developer, Femi Adelaja,” Ademiluyi continued.
He added, “After presenting their legitimate grievances, the top command at the State CID, Panti, assured them that their protest would be peaceful and directed them to meet with DPO Adekunle, who was supposed to provide police officers to ensure the protest’s safety. However, when they met with DPO Adekunle, he dismissed them from his office, despite knowing that his superiors had directed them to him.”
Ademiluyi revealed that in a shocking turn of events, early Thursday morning, as his clients were concluding their peaceful protest, they were ambushed by thugs allegedly hired by the developer and local chiefs. Despite repeated calls to the authorities at State CID Panti for protection, the police instead arrested the residents under attack, leaving the real perpetrators untouched.
“We are urging the public to reach out to SP Hundeyin, the Police PRO of Lagos State Command, to ask the Commissioner of Police, CP Fayoade, to intervene. We need him to instruct the officers at State CID Panti to release our clients and prevent any further escalation of this crisis in Lagos State,” Ademiluyi concluded.
Efforts by SaharaReporters to contact Lagos State Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
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