Concerned residents of Baruwa in the Ipaja area of Lagos State have raised the alarm over the illegal shanties and dumpsites that have overtaken the frontage and side walls of the disputed properties of Shalom Nursery and Primary School, and Cedar College in the neighborhood.
Speaking with HeapNews, the leader of the group, Dr. Kolade Ajani said it was absurd to allocate portions of the land to people for trading activities when the place was originally a school environment and residential area. He lamented that those allotting the portions of land to people are not the owners of the properties.
He stated that for the security and safety of students in the school, the government should as a matter of urgency stop the acts of impunity, which are capable of endangering citizens’ lives, particularly students and residents.
Ajani noted that the shanties being allocated by the land grabbers could also be an avenue for hoodlums and criminal gangs to wreak havoc on the communities and students of the school.
Recall that, recently, more than 40 suspected land grabbers invaded the school, claiming ownership of its land, and disrupting academic activities at the time.
Another member of the group, Babajide Olaniyonu, stated that as a result of the emerging shanties, the surrounding communities have started experiencing illegal refuse dumps by the walls of the school.
He added that if urgent steps are not taken by the state government, the eyesore could compromise people’s health.
One of the allottees told Heapnews that the portion of land on which he erected his structure was given to him by one Kaka junior, whom he paid money, before erecting the structure.
It also was gathered that the unsuspecting settlers paid between N50,000 to N70,000 for each space.
Speaking on the development, the Registrar of Shalom Group of Schools, Mr. Adebayo Akinola disclosed that the school management was shocked to see miscreants coming to erect shanties around the school, which poses a security threat to the pupils.
He stated that as a result of the activities, a portion of the land has also been turned into an illegal dumpsite, constituting an eyesore to the residents.
“We would like to state here categorically that all this abnormality constitutes a threat to our school and the pupils and students alike, we are calling on the state government and concerned local council to help residents and the students by protecting the lives and properties of people in the area.”
Akinola noted that there was a court injunction restraining both parties in the suit not to go into the said portion of the land, where all the unscrupulous activities are being perpetrated.
He pointed out that the school management had severally reported the case to the local council authority concerned, particularly the environmental section of the council on the need to take proactive steps to safeguard the health and life of the students of the school as well as the residents.