Officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Monday destroyed over 1500 shanties along the Lekki and Ajah coastline allegedly habited by urchins to launch attack on residents of the area.
City & Crime had reported that the state government had given the occupiers 14-day ultimatum to move out of the area or risk their property.
The state government had alleged that some of the structures impede free flow of water and also constitute serious security threat.
Our reporter also learnt that the affected areas had been mapped out by the state government to serve as an alternate route to motorists along that axis when completed.
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The demolition exercise was led by the chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who said the shanties not only constitute health and safety risks to residents in the area but also serve as a haven for criminals, who make use of such locations as hideout.
The chairman also disclosed that the shanties, which were built with wood, caught fire some weeks ago and led to the partial burning of a building across the fence where the shanties are located.
“It would have been a more serious incident if not for the quick intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service. Gross disregard for safety precautions would always give room to unsafe conditions, that is why we have come to put an end to it today,” he said.
