Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday urged the state police command to reinforce police presence in Ikorodu, especially Oke Ogbodo village, where there are reports of crisis between some land grabbers and the residents.
Deputy Leader, Lola Akande, made the call while addressing protesters from the community, who staged a peaceful protest at the Assembly complex.
The lawmaker said government and security agencies must not appear helpless while Lagosians were subjected to intimidation and harassment.
She recalled that similar cases of harassment had been brought to the notice of the Assembly, especially from the Ikorodu area.
She said, “I want to call on the commissioner of police to deploy more personnel in the place with a view to bringing peace, while the culprits are brought to justice.”
Akande assured the aggrieved people that government would continue to protect its citizens, including Thode in Oke Ogbodo.
The Deputy Leader explained that a bill on land grabbers was at the committee stage, adding that before the end of the year, it would be passed into law.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the community, Mr. Olalekan Lasisi, had said the community had been peaceful until some land grabbers attempted to take over the entire land.
He said, “Since then, the residents have not had rest of mind as these people terrorise us on daily basis.
The protesters alleged that workers on sites were usually beaten by the hoodlums, while wives and children in the community were raped with impunity even in the daytime
One of them said, “Whenever you attempt to confront them, they threaten to kidnap your wife and children.”
Culled: Punchng