Indigenes of Ajiran Community in Eti-Osa Local Council of Lagos, yesterday, protested against lack of motorable roads and basic amenities in the area. They also lamented that there is no school, hospital or market in the community, despite letters written to the state government and pleas for the monarch, the Ojomu of Ajiran land, Oba Tijani Akinloye, to intervene.

They alleged that instead of bringing development to the community, the monarch sold their lands, claiming all the lands belong to the king and that he has the right to do anything.

The protesters, who trooped out with placards with various inscriptions, pleaded with the Lagos State government, Inspector General of Police, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to intervene in the matter to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Speaking with The Guardian, Secretary, Concerned Ajiran Indigenes, Wasiu Yekini, said: “We are calling on the government to save our soul; we have written letters to the government to intervene because we are law abiding citizens, who want the good of our community and, we don’t want the break down of law and order in our community. The Lagos State government, Inspector General of Police, the commissioner of police and others should help us.”

“By October 23, 2023, our king will be 30 years on the throne, he was formerly the secretary of the community before he became the king so, he has been in leadership for 35 years, but no single developmental stride to show for it. We don’t have good road, school, no hospital and no market in the community, no empowerment for our youths.

Yekini, who is also Secretary, Ojomu Youth Forum, added: “The administrative headquarters of Chevron in West Africa is in our community but we don’t have anything to show for it, no indigene of this community has been employed by Chevron.

“We have 17 villages and all the lands are being sold by the monarch. So, the government should intervene, we want our rights, our money to be invested in the development of our community.”

Last week, they started to blackmailing Alhaji Ahmed Tajudeen and calling him a land grabber; Alhaji Tajudeen has been at the forefront of lifting our people in the community. He has about 100 people in his scholarship programme, and he is empowering another 100 widows, widowers and orphans every year so, they felt if they can blackmail him that he would stop doing that.

When asked about the next line of action, he said: “We will take legal action if nobody is coming to our aid after this protest. We want the government to call our fathers to order.

Speaking also, a community leader, Waheed Abiodun Fadipe, said: “I was born in June 1951 and I’ve not benefited anything from the community. We don’t want an issue, government should intervene and heed our request.”

The Guardian reached out to the monarch but he did not pick calls or respond to a message sent to him.