Hundreds of artisans operating within the Isheri-Idimu Powerline corridor, on Monday, staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, alleging threats to their livelihoods following moves to displace them from their workplace.
The protesters told reporters at the Assembly complex that suspected hoodlums, allegedly acting on the instruction of the Chairman of the Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Idris Balogun, were attempting to take over their mechanic village located along Oladun Road, Isheri-Idimu, for private interests.
Carrying placards with messages such as āSave us from land grabbers,ā āPowerline belongs to government, not Omo Onile,ā and āWe demand competency and decency at Egbe-Idimu,ā the artisans appealed to lawmakers to intervene and protect them from what they described as persistent harassment.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Chairman of the mechanic village, Adeleke Odufeko, maintained that the land was lawfully allocated to them by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.
āIt was the Ministry of Transportation that allocated the space to us for use as a mechanic village. We have official approval,ā Odufeko said.
He explained that the artisans were instructed not to construct permanent structures on the land and had strictly adhered to that directive.
āThere are no permanent buildings there, only spaces where we keep our tools and equipment. We were also directed to pay annual royalties to the traditional rulers in Idimu and Isheri, and we have consistently done so,ā he added.
Odufeko alleged that tensions escalated when Balogun, whom he described as a royal family member but not a reigning monarch, allegedly demanded payments from the artisans.
āHe came and said we should start paying him money. He is related to the royal family, but he is not the king. His father was the late monarch. Since 2016, he has been harassing and intimidating us,ā he claimed.
According to him, the artisans have suffered repeated arrests and intimidation.
āThere is hardly any police station he has not taken us to. Some of our members were even sent to Ikoyi prison without committing any offence,ā he alleged.
Odufeko also stated that despite a court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo, violence erupted at the site late last month.
āWhen the harassment became unbearable, we went to court in 2021. In 2024, the court ordered that the status quo be maintained and warned him not to interfere with us,ā he said.
āHowever, on November 29, thugs accompanied by soldiers and police officers invaded the area. Vehicles undergoing repairs were damaged and shops were vandalised.ā
He said officials of the Ministry of Transportation later intervened, deploying a task force to remove the hoodlums.
āBut shortly after they left, the thugs returned and resumed attacks, beating people. Although some were arrested during a second intervention, we later learnt that influential individuals secured their release. Since then, peace has eluded us,ā he added.
Odufeko said the artisans have been barred from operating and that he has personally been targeted because of his leadership role.
āThey shut down the entire place and warned us not to work. I am being hunted because I am the chairman representing about 10,000 artisans. That is why we came to the Assembly for help,ā he said.
Addressing the protesters, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency, Stephen Ogundipe, assured them that their grievances would be addressed.
āWe are here on behalf of the Speaker, Mudashir Obasa. We have listened to your concerns and will formally present them to him,ā Ogundipe said.
āWe commend you for remaining peaceful. The House will invite all concerned parties, including the Ministry of Transportation and your representatives, and ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated. We urge you to remain calm and law-abiding.ā
Artisans storm Lagos Assembly, protest alleged attempt to take over mechanic village
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