Five Sustain Injury in Protest against Demolition of Buildings in Osun

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

No fewer than five persons sustained injury in a protest against the demolition of houses at Abere, the host community of the Osun State Government Secretariat, on Monday.

About 200 youths who are indigenes of Ede had trooped out to resist the demolition of the buildings at the town. The youths beat government workers and stampeded the security operatives at the scene.

A demolished building at Abere, Osun State

The affected buildings had been marked for demolition by the state Ministry of Environment for the construction of Mega station.

Kicking against the demolition, the owner of the buildings, majority of which are residential houses, insisted that the past administration of governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola had spared those houses with an agreement signed to that effect.

They expressed surprise that the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration could wake up start demolishing the existing structures in the area.

The protesting youths made bonfire directly opposite the main gate of the state government secretariat, causing traffic jam for hours before the violence was calm down by security operatives.

Speaking with newsmen, Secretary of Ede Descendant Union, Mr Bashir Oyedemi said the matter had been on for a very long time when Oyinlola administration served demolition notice and upon intervention, the buildings were spared and additional 83acres of land was allocated to the community for future development.

demolished building at Abere.

Oyedemi noted that the houses had been at the location before the establishment of the state secretariat to the area, adding that since government is a continuum, the community don’t expect change of heart from the government.

He said representation had been sent to Aregbesola who was not in the country presently and had assured that he would look into it when he returns to the state.

The State commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye and the Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG) zone 11, Mr Onoh Okafor visited the scene and appealed to the protesters for calm, urging them not to take laws into their hands.

A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Akanbi who is representing Ede-North state constituency prevailed on the youths to maintain calm and allow peace to reign.