Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly over what they termed illegal demolition of Ilaje Otumara Community, which affected over 500,000 houses and displaced about 500,000 residents of the community.

The petition, addressed to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, titled “Petition Against Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya, the Oloto Of Otto, LASBCA and others, signed by its President, Prince Iwamitigha Irowainu, was presented during a peaceful protest to the House.

In the petition, the group stated that the route to the illegal demolition started on February 11, 2025, when an agency of the state government came to Otumara Community with armed police officers with some area boys and told the members of the Community to leave within three days without prior notice.

They said, “In response to this threat of ejection and demolition, members of the Community in large number protested to the Governor’s office at Alausa on February 12, 2025 where the governor denied anything of such nature through his representative that his office was not aware of any intending demolition of Otumara Community and our people should go about their lawful activities.”

They recalled that again on Sunday, February 18, 2025, some of the government officials came to Otumara Community with armed police officers and some known thugs and area boys and further threatened that the residents of Otumara Community should vacate immediately as Lagos State Government has decided to demolish the Community.”

They stressed that the residents of Otumara Community were advised to go and see Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya, the Oloto of Otto if they want the demolition of Otumara Community to be halted.

“Sir, it will interest you to know that the Otumara Community land is already a subject of litigation in a SUIT NO LD/4292/LMN/17 and SUIT NO 25/26/2017 before Hon Justice Sule – Amsat of High Court 2 Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, instituted by the Oloto Ruling House against Baale Festus O. Arowojolu and Arowojolu Family of Otumara Community and the next adjournment date for trial was May 7, 2025 but these lawless people brazenly and illegally demolished Otumara Community between 7th and 10th March 7 and 20, 2025 during the pendency of the case before a competent court of law,” they said.

The group is demanding immediate arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in the illegal demolition.
They also urged the state assembly to prevent Oba Bashiru Abisoye Odesanya and his group from doing anything on Otumara Land, and “make provision for adequate compensation for the victims of this illegal demolition.”
The group called on the Lagos State Government to provide adequate security for the protection of Ilaje Communities in Lagos State.

They also pleaded with the state government to treat Ilajes in Lagos State as bona fide indigenes of the state, adding that “where the government failed to protect our lives and properties, for whatever reason, our people shall have no alternative other than to defend themselves.”

While addressing the protesters, the House of Assembly member representing Badagry Constituency 1, Solomon Bonu Saanu, told the protesters to properly present their case, saying that all those involved in the matter would be invited, along with their leaders, on how to resolve the issues.