Residents of Ayetobi Community in Agbado-Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, have staged a protest to reject the proposed siting of a cemetery on land recently cleared by the government.
In a video obtained by GovernMend Nigeria on Friday, hundreds of residents were seen trooping out in protest, chanting loudly, “We don’t want a cemetery in our area.” The protesters, carrying placards and tree leaves, marched through several streets within the community to express their opposition.
The land, spanning several acres, was cleared following the revocation of provisional allocations and the demolition of structures located within the power-line setback. However, community members say they are alarmed by reports that the area may now be converted into a cemetery.
Speaking to GovernMend Nigeria, a female resident who declined to disclose her name blamed some landlords for the situation. According to her, personal interests were placed above community welfare.
“It is the fault of these landlords who only care about what they want to gain. Please help us tell the Governor that we do not want a cemetery here,” she said.
The protest comes months after a massive demolition exercise unsettled several communities in the Agbado-Oke-Odo axis. The demolition, which affected areas around Command, Amikanle, and AIT in Alagbado, displaced thousands of residents and destroyed properties worth billions of naira.
Over 3,000 structures were reportedly pulled down, including residential houses, churches, mosques, schools, shops, and artisans’ workshops. Residents described the operation as traumatic, leaving behind tears, ruins, and unquantifiable losses.
The demolition exercise, which began on Thursday, November 6, initially targeted buildings located directly under high-tension power lines, starting from Command T-Junction to Atapa Market, covering a distance of about 400 metres. Although the exercise was temporarily halted, it later resumed, leading to the complete clearance of all structures within the power-line setback due to safety concerns.
While residents acknowledge the dangers of living under high-tension power lines, they insist that converting the cleared land into a cemetery is unacceptable and could further stigmatize and devalue the community.
They have therefore called on the Lagos State Government, especially Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to reconsider the plan and engage the community before taking any further decisions on the use of the land.