Ebonyi State Government and the member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo, federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Nkemkanma Kama, have commenced the evacuation of over 1,000 stranded Ebonyi Indigenes in Ilaje village, Lagos, following the demolition of the area by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Friday, the State Commissioner for Special Duties and the Focal Person, Ebonyi State Diaspora Office, Mr. Valentine Okike-Uzo said that a good number of Ebonyi indigenes were affected by the demolition which prompted the state governor, Francis Nwifuru to order for their immediate evacuation back to the state.
He said, „In the early hours of Monday 10th March, 2025, Mr. Castus Agbafo woke me up with the sad news about the demolition of Ilaje village Lagos by the Lagos State Government and solicited the immediate rapid response from Ebonyi State Government.
“That same morning, I wrote a memo to the Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who swiftly mandated that all Ebonyi indigenes stranded at the Ilaje village be evacuated immediately.
“The Governor provided enough mobility and adequate logistics for this purpose. On Wednesday, 2 trucks and 2 luxury buses departed Ilaje for Ebonyi fully loaded of Ebonyi indigenes. There were also loaded 3 trucks, few computer buses and a Luxury bus. Information reaching me is that they have arrived Ebonyi safely.
“Today, the 13th of March 2025, more trucks and luxury buses are already on the ground for more evacuation. The trucks are being loaded with their goods, and a full luxury bus has just arrived to start loading as well. Both trucks and the Luxury bus will depart for Ebonyi this night,” he said.
He expressed regret that many of the stranded indigenes insist that they are not going anywhere. „We are appealing to them to relocate to the state where they can have shelter and a roof over their heads.
“More trucks will be made available as they come out because many of them are saying they’re not going anywhere. But we have been appealing to them to consider their children who are being exposed to hazardous conditions,” he added.
He urged other indigenes of the state to appeal to their relatives who were stranded in the village to seize the opportunity provided by the state governor to come back home.
Similarly, the member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo, federal constituency, Hon Kama said that he has been able to evacuate about 251 persons mainly indigenes of old Ohaozara which comprises of Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha local governments.
Hon Kama, who spoke through his Senior Legislative Aide, Mr. Ogbonna David, said that any of those evacuated who desire to go back will be assisted to go back later.
“Now we have been able to bring them back safely, but anyone who wants to return thereafter will be assisted in going back.
“What we did was first to assist them have a roof over their head and then plan and decide what next to do. If they decide on what next to do, of which we have the resources and wherewithal, we will try to assist them,” he added.
Residents of Ilaje Otumara and Baba Ijora communities in Lagos Mainland were forcibly evicted following a large-scale demolition exercise by the LASBCA.
