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Lagos’ Demolition of Monkey Village, an Attack on the Poor, Children’s Education -CEE-HOPE

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3 years ago

January 4, 2021

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A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) has criticised the Lagos State Government for the demolition of Monkey Village, an informal housing settlement in the Opebi area of the state.

In the morning of December 31, 2020, truckloads of policemen, taskforce officers and thugs descended on the community and with the aid of graders and bulldozers, pulled down the houses, displacing more than 400 persons including children. Many of the residents who had gone out for the day had their homes totally demolished with their belongings inside.

An ICT Centre and youth hub built in the community by CEE-HOPE was also pulled down with several computers, library and other gadgets intact in the building. Pleas by community members who had the key of the centre to retrieve the materials were ignored.

Monkey Village’s children savour the ICT centre donated by CEE-HOPE during the recent commisioning in their community

The ICT Centre after the demolition Dec. 31, 2020

CEE-HOPE’s water project in the community was also totally destroyed. Several members of the community were also brutalised by the government-sponsored thugs, according to community sources.

Water project for Monkey VIllage Community by CEE-HOPE before the demolition

The remains of the CEE-HOPE water project to the community

After several denials by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, the Lagos State Task Force office and other official quarters, the Lagos State Ministry Of Physical Planning & Urban Development: came up with a statement on Sunday January 3, 2021 accepting responsibility for the demolition exercise carried out on December 31, 2020, in Monkey Village. They gave ‘reclamation of wetland’ as the reason for the forced eviction exercise.

But in a statement on January 4, CEE-HOPE faulted the action of the Lagos State Government which it described as ‘crude, autocratic and a gross violation of all known laws and guidelines guiding the handling of such matters world over’ which has not only displaced 400 persons (currently homeless) but also endangering the educational dream of more than 200 of the community’s children.

‘It is indeed a crying shame that the biggest news out of Lagos every single year would revolve around the savage treatment of the urban poor,’ said CEE-HOPE’s founder/Executive Director, Betty Abah. ‘From Maroko, Makoko, Badia East, Iluibirin to Otodo-Gbame, and now Monkey Village, it is the same pattern of the gross abuse of the human and shelter rights of the urban poor, when Lagos is not the only state in Nigeria and when Nigeria is not the only place where we have slum settlement or indeed where the urban poor exists. Yet, the most painful for us was the destruction of educational facilities funded by private individuals and for the most vulnerable of children, and in a country with the highest number of out-of-school children, at a time of a global pandemic and during a national recession,’ she added.

Monkey Village chidlren with damaged computers picked from the demolished CEE-HOPE’s ICT centre

According to CEE-HOPE, the latest statement from the government was part of the layers of lies bandied by the Lagos State Government in the last few days to cover up the atrocity committed against the poor residents of Monkey Village. From claiming it was a take-over of a land under contest in court, to saying it was a hoodlums’ hide-out, it has now framed a wetland narrative.

‘But whatever it is, how come there was no prior notice to the residents to at least take out their few belongings before they were crushed by the graders?

According to Abah, Monkey Village sits on about 10 plots of land which belongs to about seven individuals. The individuals then gave out the land to the residents pending when they are fully ready to develop the place and each land is overseen by some members of the community who are well known to the land owners. She stressed that the people are therefore not illegal occupants neither have they ever been served any evacuation notice.

Now that an agency of the Lagos State government has finally come out to admit culpability in the entire fiasco, CEE-HOPE is therefore demanding the following:

1. An apology to the community members for the gross violation of their rights, including the failure to follow due process by duly serving them formal notice.

2. Compensation of every one of the community members for lost personal and household belongings.

3. A relocation of the victims of this arbitrary forced eviction as guaranteed by the UN provision on Housing Right.

4. Compensation of CEE-HOPE for the complete destruction of its multi-million Naira ICT Centre/Youth Hub in the community and water project.

5. A promise by the government to end all such arbitrary actions especially with regards to the urban poor in future engagements, commit to meaningful engagement of informal housing residents rather than the usual use of brute force, commit to upgrading of such settlements as is the current practice across the world rather than forced eviction which pushes the poor into worse levels of vulnerability.

6. That the Lagos State House of Assembly institute hearings into the incident, with a view towards addressing the issue and unearthing the personalities and real reasons behind this reckless, inhuman and lawless action which has been ongoing in this state unhindered, and which exacerbates the suffering of the poor and is in violation of the state’s supposed duty as the hope of the poor and vulnerable.

Betty Abah

Founder/Executive Director

CEE-HOPE

January 4, 2021

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BREAKING: Gunmen attack Benue Link vehicle again, abduct passengers

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Kidnappers Demand N60 Million as Ransom

Published

4 days ago

September 19, 2023

Oche Onu

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Reports reaching InsideBenue reveals that some gunmen have on Sunday attacked a Benue Link passenger bus, abducting not fewer than 10 passengers.

The incident occured around Olanyega community along Otukpo-Otukpa road in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to the Secretary General of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (Benue Links chapter), Comrade Gabriel Tachia, the fully loaded bus was on its way to Makurdi from Onitsha before it was hijacked on the Benue road.

“Four passengers were released as at yesterday night (Sunday) after the army gave the abductors a hot chase. It was a fully loaded bus (with 15 occupants). The bus was returning from Onitsha to Makurdi,” Tachia told newsmen.

Mr Omale Omale, the Commissioner for Power, Energy and Transport who confirmed the development to newsmen in Makurdi said information are sketchy.

The Makurdi Zonal Centre of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said among the passengers abducted was a staff of the organisation.

According to the report, the kidnappers demanded N60 million, but reduced the demand to N16 million as ransom before their victims gain freedom.

The operation which lasted over 30 minutes, according to locals, occurred at 2:30pm on Sunday, leaving motorists plying that section of the highway helpless.

A local chief in the area, who escaped being caught up in the attack, narrated that the spot – Olanyega/Okpudu – where the incident happened on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Enugu Expressway had over time become unsafe for commuters.

Recall that similar incident involving two buses of the transport company a fortnight ago around Ajaokuta in Kogi State. 28 people were kidnapped.

Tachia however added that eight of the 10 Lagos-bound passengers abducted in Kogi axis had been released remaining two victims.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident.

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Reactions Trail Nomination of Nollywood Actor-Son as Late Pastor Odukoya’s Successor

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5 days ago

September 18, 2023

Oche Onu

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Jimmy Odukoya

Following the nomination of Nollywood actor and son of the late Pastor Odukoya, Jimmy Odukoya as successor of his popular father by the Board of Trustees of Fountain of Life Church on Sunday, a social media influencer, Barr. Jov Tersoo took to his Facebook page to congratulate the new overseer. But his post with different reactions from his readers:

Tersoo writes: Congratulations to Jimmy Odukoya. This is why some people keep referring to Pentecostal churches as family empires. Also a reason why no one want to serve under another person as a pastor. No matter how good and faithful you are, the general overseer’s son is prepared to take the lead when the father is gone. May his reign be great.

Below are some of the reactions:

✍ Idoko Noah Sanni commented “The hair style if not natural dada (dread) and you still remain in the church you need check up,we thank God for orthodox background”

✍ Tertindi Teeter writes: “Thanks be to God Almighty who uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”

✍ Ololade Paul writes:
“With this kind of hair style? This is not how we met Christianity!”

✍ Usha Humphrey writes: “He looks like a superstar”

✍ Walter Ogar writes: “Joel Osteen took over from his father John Osteen, founder of Lakewood Church and has surpassed all expectations. Just listen to God, what is he saying?”

✍ Ishaya Danladi writes: “The founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God followed a path that most overseers dread to take. He made someone not even related to him to take over the helm of affairs before his departure. Most presidents and founders of modern pentecostal churches start their work with the view that it is a family business.”

✍ Aondona Manta write: “Jov, Who was the leader of the Jerusalem council of elders, or if we must put it in today’s parlance, the Chairman of the Board in Jesus’ ministry after his death and resurrection?”

✍ Sammie Adoche writes: “Until you know the circumstances surrounding his nomination it’s wrong to call any church a family business. Jimmy is not someone who will normally want to take up such mantle but if it’s God’s what will he do.”

✍ Ayodele Yemitope writes “I feel that’s subjective… It’s not all churches that get another person that’s not a family member that ends up more Successful and it’s not all churches that has the son or family of the founder take over that becomes a Success. What matters is if God is leading in that direction. Jimmy has been a Pastor in TFL for a while now long before the Dad’s death. But for the Dreads that seems kind off out of place to many. Every other things is okay from man’s point of view from God side that’s for those that have heard in line. The real deal is when the Latter House Surpass the Former”

✍ Dommie Kay writes “Any man that can go sit in the salon, washing, conditioning drying and braiding, as in braiding his hair should be feared, e get why. Even women don’t enjoy the experience, we only enjoy it for the beauty of the outcome.”

Jimmy, a Nollywood actor and musician who featured prominently Netflix’s ‘Woman King’ movie as Oba Ade was announced to the church on Sunday as his father’s successor.

According to a member of the BoT, Pastor Rotimi Okpaise, the late Taiwo Odukoya confided in the board of trustees (BoT) members about the succession plan before his demise.

Okpaise said the BoT unanimously elected Jimmy as the senior pastor and chairperson of the board..

Jimmy will be formally installed on Saturday, September 30, 2023.

The former Senior pastor and founder died on August 7, Odukoya, in the United States of America aged 67.

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AFCON’23: Full List of Qualified Countries

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South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana face the big boys

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1 week ago

September 14, 2023

Oche Onu

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24 countries have qualified for prestigious continental Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cote D’Ivoire next year. All 24 countries will justle for the golden cup.

The tournament will feature 12 former AFCON champions with Nigeria, a three-time champion not left out.