The Oyo State Government, on Thursday, commenced the demolition of illegal structures and shanties at different locations in Ibadan, the state capital.
The exercise began at St. Gabriel’s Secondary Commercial School, Sabo-Jembewon Area, Ibadan.
Security personnel of Operation Burst, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Western Security Network codenamed Amotekun Operation were on the ground to maintain law and order against the protesting dwellers of the shanties.
The state Chairman of the Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Hon Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd) led the team to enforce the Executive Order.
Speaking during the exercise, Aderemi said, “No going back on shanties and illegal structures demolitions across the state.
The Executive Order, as issued in 2023 by the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, could not be thwarted but must be obeyed with strict adherence, hence the need for this action.”
She explained that adequate notifications were given to the occupants before resulting in the demolition exercise.
The chairman stressed that safety and sanity concerns for students of the affected school could no longer be overlooked as the shanties latch on the fence of the school.
This, according to her, served as a place of abode, hideouts for criminals, shops for the occupants that harbour dangerous substances, and an environment that fostered the perpetration of vices.
A representative of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Omololu Babatola of the Land Matters Unit, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, said the situation at Sabo-Jembewon had been a challenge to education in the area.
