Police shoot man protesting against property take over in Lagos

A man was shot by police on Monday in Isheri Oke, Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Seun, who is a son of the head of the market (Iya Loja) in the area, was shot in his left hand while he was protesting the takeover of the community by one Prince Michael.

The incident occurred at about 1pm, while youths in the area attempted to prevent police officers and a court sheriff from placing an order allegedly from a Lagos High Court. 

The court sheriff yesterday placed a public notice in the area, notifying residents of the area that possession of the land in Isheri Oke and environs, near Olowora, had been taken.

The notification which was sequel to a judgment in suit No ID/1352/2001, between Prince Micheal Adesegun Bakare and two others, versus O. Asafa and eight others, was delivered by Justice Candide Johnson of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on May 3, 2016, Vanguard reports.

The public notice which was placed in the area, dated February 17, 2020, reads: 

Public Notice to the general public is hereby notified that the land lying being and situated at the Isheri Oke and Environs near Olowora in the Kosofe Local government area of Lagos state which land is described and verged, Blue On Survey plan No BO/LA/DISP.02A/2011 dated 07/09/2011, drawn by Surv. B.O. Oyeleye tendered as exhibit in suit No ID/1352/2001, between Prince Micheal Adesegun Bakare and two others versus O. Asafa and eight others, by virtue of the judgment delivered by Justice Candide Johnson of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division dated 3rd of May, 2016 and the enrolment order granted for consequential relief of possession of all that parcel of land lying, situate and being at Isheri Oke and environs, near Olowora, in the Kosofe local government area of Lagos state, as shown in the above-mentioned survey plan. 

All persons who are on the land through unauthorized families or entities are hereby warned that their act and or continue stay on the land is illegal unlawful and malafide. Contact the undersigned within 14 days from the date of this notice. 

Possession taken today 17/ 02/2020, by order of court.

Residents alleged that the police and the court sheriff came with some thugs, thereby prompting youths in the area to resist the move.

An eye witness, Mrs Temitope Shittu, told the publication, "When the court Sheriff and policemen, with the thugs were trying to place the notice, youths in the area tried to stop them and in the process, they (youths) hauled stones and bottles at the Police. 

"Some shots were fired by the Police, a bullet hit Seun, who was rushed to Mayflower hospital. But he was rejected there. He was then taken to another hospital: Tomade hospital in Ojodu Berger where he is at the moment."

Eyewitnesses also said that the police fled the scene, abandoning, three of their vehicles.