The Onikosi of Ikosi, Oba Alamu Oloyede Kehinde, is facing backlash over an alleged illegal demolition that has left several residents homeless in Lagos State.
Opeyemi Ogunlami, the Coordinator of the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement in Kosofe, strongly condemned the monarch’s actions, accusing him of spearheading the demolitions, which took place between February 3 and 4, 2025.
According to affected residents, the demolition was carried out without prior notice. Witnesses reported that armed police officers, accompanied by bulldozers, arrived unexpectedly and began tearing down homes, causing panic and distress among families.
Ogunlami denounced what he described as a troubling trend of traditional rulers displacing residents in Lagos.
“This is no longer acceptable!” he declared, calling for an immediate end to such forced evictions.
The intervention of Honourable Femi Saheed, Kosofe Constituency II Representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly, temporarily halted the demolition.
However, residents claim that Oba Oloyede Kehinde has since issued fresh threats, vowing to continue the demolitions, leaving many in fear and uncertainty about their future.
Ogunlami urged the monarch to respect constitutional provisions and protect the rights of his people. He warned that if the evictions persist, displaced victims might be left with no choice but to seek shelter in the palace itself.
Residents are now calling on the government to intervene and prevent further displacement.
