The Oyo State Government has started pulling down illegal structures and makeshift settlements at several locations across Ibadan, the state capital. This action, which began on Thursday, is part of the wider plan to enforce an Executive Order signed by Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023.
The first phase of the exercise began at St. Gabriel’s Secondary Commercial School, located in the Sabo-Jembewon area. Bulldozers moved into the area early in the morning, while a strong presence of security personnel ensured the operation went on without violence.
Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Operation Burst, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Amotekun Corps were seen monitoring the situation and addressing any confrontations from residents of the demolished shanties.
Leading the team was Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd), who serves as the Chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.
Speaking to reporters on-site, she noted, “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 also noted that occupants had been given enough warning and time to vacate the area before the demolition began. According to her, one major reason the school environment was targeted first is the safety of students.
She noted that the illegal structures were pressed up against the school fence and had become a hideout for criminals and a place where harmful substances were being kept.
Justice Aderemi added that the government had received multiple reports that the presence of these structures was creating fear and tension among students and staff at the school.
In support of the demolition, a representative from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Omololu Babatola from the Land Matters Unit, explained that the condition around the school had long posed a serious challenge to education in the area.
He noted that the illegal settlement created distractions and security risks that could no longer be tolerated.
