A person affected by the recent Oworonshoki demolition in Lagos State has issued a desperate appeal to the state government, the local traditional ruler, and sympathetic citizens for assistance, stating that the victims are currently without shelter.
In an interview monitored on Monday’s “The Morning Brief” program on Channels Television, the 63-year-old victim, whose name was withheld, explained that they have nowhere to live.
“We are human beings, not livestock or animals. The government must assist us,” she pleaded. She alleged that before the demolition occurred, some individuals—specifically indigenes of Oworonshoki, many of whom did not even reside there—were given compensation amounts of N200,000 and N300,000.
She claimed, “We were not informed that they were coming to our area to demolish. And even if they intended to demolish our houses, would N200,000 be sufficient to secure a new home?” She detailed their current distress, stating, “I am with my children. I cannot abandon them. We were staying inside this tank, and they came there to set it on fire. Some of us were sleeping inside the water tank. Some people placed clothing there, and they returned to burn those items again. We are just loitering around. Some people sleep on this street, we sleep anywhere we find space.”
The elderly, tearful woman concluded her appeal: “My plea is that if the Lagos State government is responsible for this, they should intervene. They must please help us. We are not goats. We are not animals. They should have mercy on us. This is excessive. There are even individuals there suffering from strokes who cannot stand.”
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