MD, Lekki Free Zone killed in land scuffle

A clash between inhabitants of the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos state and security forces over land to be acquired for the Lekki Free Trade zone around Okunraiye community has left at least three people dead, among them the Managing Director of the Lekki Free Zone Ltd, Mr. Tajudeen Disu.

Trouble reportedly started when villagers of the area allegedly went on a peaceful demonstration to protest what they felt was a forceful takeover of their land by the state government for the company.

Reports suggest that policemen who were called in to quell the protest allegedly attacked and killed two of the protesters, sparking further crises.

According to Sahara reporters, a local chief in the area said that the Lekki Free Zone Ltd called in anti-riot policemen of “Mopol 49” to kill the protesters because they had insisted too long ago against forceful acquisition of the community land by the Lekki Free Zone Ltd for the construction of a large petrochemical refinery owned by Dangote Group.

The chief said the Mopol were led and supervised to the protest scene by Mr. Disu, who was among those killed as the police officers guarding him and protesters clashed.

One policeman was also feared dead. The community has been taken over by soldiers reinforced to the community as the crisis escalated.

The village has allegedly been taken over by soldiers sent to the community as a result of the crisis, while many villagers are said to have vacated the village out of fear.

Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode confirmed that Mr. Disu died in the fracas and that his body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Hospital for a post-mortem.

Reacting, Ambode expressed sadness over the loss, even as he appealed to residents of Ibeju Lekki area to give peace a chance by allowing government to carry out projects aimed at bringing development to their communities.

Read also: Man to marry late wife before burial, family insists

 

Ambode said, “Under this circumstance, gun shots were used by these villagers within the Lekki Free Trade Zone axis this morning. It saddens my heart and the heart of all of us because this was the person who had been dedicated to the job in the last 10 years, promoting the inflow of investments into Lagos State.

“I have directed the Commissioner of Police to do a thorough job into the killing. I want to appeal to all our people in Ibeju- Lekki to give peace a chance. It is in the interest of all Lagosians that we attract many investors as much as possible to the state, that is what we have been trying to do in the last four months”.

Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, while briefing state House Correspondents, disclosed that 10 suspects had been arrested so far, promising that the police would get to the root of the matter as investigation is on-going.

He said, “We have so far arrested 10 suspects and the arrest that were made are those that were directly responsible. We are still in the state of operation. More arrests will be made and we will do a very diligent investigation.

“We will ensure that those people behind the dastardly act are caught. We will go after their sponsors and I can assure you that investigation will be carried out as speedily as possible and diligently prosecuted.”

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now