Lagos — THE DEMOLITION of residential buildings in Agbo Malu in Apapa layout by suspected agents of the Lagos State Government has continued to generate mixed reactions from the residents and some concerned members of the public.

Tucked between Arakan Barracks in Apapa and former Malu Road in the outskirts of Ajegunle in Lagos, the erstwhile serene suburb is the centre of a fresh contention following the recent demolition of this pre-colonial rail line abode.

According to some of the settlers who spoke to select media executives, they inherited their present location from their progenitors who were originally cattle herdsmen and dealers; hence the area was christened Agbo Malu, a Yoruba, phrase that could be translated more or less in English Language as an enclave for cows.

It was learnt that the residents, most who have now abandoned the past trade of their forebears following developments that have necessitated a shift in focus to allow for proper environmental planning, were now engaged in various trades while still holding on to their homes.

They posited that about 30,000 persons inhabited the now decimated Cow Village.

According to them, on June 18, when they were barely waking up to face the day's activities and oblivious of any looming crisis, they suddenly saw a group of people led by armed Mobile Policemen complemented with earth moving machines tumble down every bit of structure along the corridor.

They noted that properties, outside the physical structures, were demolished by the rampaging police men, adding that nothing was left for them to salvage..

However, Chairman of the Agbo Malu Arewa Community, Audu Adamu, said that the people were tenants to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and were indeed rent paying ones. He held out purported copies of the titles to the land which he said was an allocation document from NRC.

He said they had been at peace with all their neighbours, including Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited whose depot adjoins the settlement but only separated by a wall.

According to him, there has been no issue with any entity until about 10 years ago when he alleged Mobil Oil sought their ejection from the location. The situation, he added, led to an arbitration from the then Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) which was unable to get commitments from the stakeholders to re-settle the residents in another location in order to stave off any fears of incidents that could arise from the mix of human activities the very volatile nature of oil operations.

Audu alleged that the company was reluctant to foot any bill to relocate them, hence a gentleman agreement was reached between the parties that each of the parties should maintain the status quo but that Mobil should raise its perimeter fence so as to block off any interference from its neighbours, including the residents. He further said that Mobil adhered to same and that it has been a peaceful co-existence since then.

He alleged that contrary to insinuations that the Lagos State Government was responsible for the demolition of its quarters, there were the hands of some its corporate neighbours in the incident.

Another member of the executive of the Agbo Malu Arewa Community said as part of the systematic erosion of its legitimacy and sense of communality spanning over a decade was the change of the former Malu Road, for which they for many decades associated to Mobil Road. That he added was the beginning of this long-drawn subterranean psychological warfare.

He said in order to avoid any situation that spark off quick and avoidable fire outbreaks, all houses within the domain were cast in cement with most of them modestly decorated. But all that, he said have been wasted by the demolition.

Unconfirmed reports though estimate the loss in the demolition saga to several millions of naira, even as two persons were said to have died in the aftermath with several others injured. However, the Police in Ajeromi could not confirm if there was any loss of life as no such case was 'incidented'.

On July 20, from available documents signed by David S. O. Adjharho and Napoleon Emeaso-Nwachukwu of the Festus Keyamo Chambers, a Lagos-based firm of legal practitioners acting for the displaced residents, petitioned the Lagos State Government on the issue. In a letter with copies sent to the State Security Service, (SSS), the Nigerian Railway and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, the firm stressed that "our clients number well-over 30,000 and inhabit a sprawling parcel of land situate at Agbo Malu, now Mobil Road. Our clients' properties about 300 houses are bordered by Mobil Oil Plc jetty Headquarters and PHCN Station, Apapa on the South, while the Nigerian Army Barracks Marine Beach borders the said property on the North... the Nigerian Railway Guage line ran across our clients' properties."

Further, the firm alleged in its petition that the residents were forcefully ejected and their properties destroyed by Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc which contracted officers of a local government to execute the eviction.

"Initially, our client thought it was the Nigerian Railway Corporation who is their landlord that did it, but on investigation, it was revealed that Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc contracted ...out the illegal eviction of our clients and the wanton destruction of their properties."

The law firm appealed to the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to intervene in the peoples' situation in order not to precipitate any crisis that could plunge the state into another orgy of violence and insecurity as in the case in the Niger Delta which it alleged is the fall-out of the insensitivity of oil companies to their host communities.

The petition states further, "Indications are that some sympathizers to the plight of our clients are massing for reprisal attack ... on the masterminds of this unjust and oppressive conduct, Elders among the rank and file of our clients have been making desperate efforts to calm frayed nerves."

They appealed to the governor to intervene by setting up an investigating panel on the issue in order to appease the people and serve as a quick restrain against unruly communal action from the evictees, stressing that " we sincerely don't want the kind of restiveness that has engulfed the Niger Delta region due to ...extend to Lagos.

The legal firm drew attention to the issue of notice, saying the residents were taken unawares by the demolition squad as no verbal or written notice of an imminent demolition was given before it struck.

But in another aim, the legal firm launched another offensive in a letter dated same day with the petition sent to the governor. Here, it was the demand of N676, 704,312 as "compensation for the illegal ejection of our clients and loss of their properties."

With a list of properties attached and names of affected persons included, the law firm demanded that immediate attention be given to the evictees who it claimed are now to the elements with no alternatives but to go under bridges or remain totally unsheltered in their demolished site.

In an emphatic tone, the Festus Keyamo Chambers urged in addition that the oil company redresses alleged injustices meted on the community and urged also that it provides urgent relief materials to the displaced.

"We equally demand that our clients be compensated for the unwarranted and monumental tragedy you brought upon them and for which some of them have lost not only their properties but their lives.

"In addition ...we request as a matter of urgency that relief materials be given to our client before they all die of hunger and diseases."

It urged the company to respond to its demands to forestall going further with their clients' instructions.