800 Ebonyi indigenes return home after Lagos demolishes Ilaje settlements

The Ebonyi State government on Monday said that it has evacuated over 800 Ebonyi indigenes trapped in Lagos State following the demolition of some parts of Ilaje by the Lagos State government.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the Commissioner for Special Duties and State Diaspora, Valentine Okeke, said that most of those stranded were women and children, noting that before their return, they were sleeping under the bridge since the sad incident occurred in Ilaje, Lagos State.

He noted that when the state governor was officially informed about the incident, he ordered him to go and bring them back to the state, and that is exactly what he did, noting that he went to Lagos and brought them back.

Okeke further stated that it was not only Ebonyi indigenes who were affected by the demolition; people from other states were also there.

However, he stressed that Ebonyi State was the only government that took proactive measures to bring its people back home.

He noted that the state government is profiling those affected to determine how they will be assisted in starting a new life, stressing that the governor cannot bring them back only to leave them to suffer.

His words: “Officially, we were informed that our people were stranded in Lagos after the demolition, and the governor ordered that we should go and bring them back. That is exactly what I did. I went to Lagos and brought them back.

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“We also learned that those stranded were women and children, and before their return, they were sleeping under the bridge since the sad incident occurred in Ilaje, Lagos State.

“It was an eyesore seeing small children below three or four years living in an open space under the bridge. If you see the clips, you will know that these people are going through extreme hardship. It was on that basis that the governor said he would not allow his people to suffer.

“It was not only Ebonyi indigenes who were affected by the demolition; people from other states were there. But I can tell you that Ebonyi State was the only government that took proactive measures to bring its people back home.

“I am sure that the governor, in his usual way, must do something for his people. He cannot bring them back to suffer. That is why we are trying to profile them.

“At a point, people were bringing their goods from different locations, not necessarily from Ilaje, because they saw the opportunity to bring back their property.

“Those whose houses and businesses were destroyed are the ones who called the attention of the government, and those are the people we are working with. The data will be provided after proper and thorough scrutiny.”