Bolanle Babalola, a widow, is currently facing a predicament after being made homeless and asked by land grabbers in Lagos State to pay N5 million, an amount beyond her pay grade, to buy the land back.
Narrating Babalola’s ordeal, a man identified simply as Damilola, in a series of posts on Twitter on Sunday, explained that land grabbers and touts destroyed the two-storey building that she and her late husband built on 195, Ejibo Road, Lagos, about 23 years ago.
According to the narrator, the woman, a 62-year-old retiree, has taken the case to court but has been frustrated by the touts, who allegedly denied her access to her properties in the house as they locked her out.
The house was then allegedly demolished in bits by the land grabbers, who she claimed carted her properties and began a new construction on the land, despite the case still being in court.
Damilola wrote: “Imagine your house being sold in bits over your head then finally being demolished. I met 62 y/o Bolanle Babalola today (Sunday). She’s been a widow since 2017 & retired with delayed gratuity for years. Landgrabbers have insisted that she pays ₦5M to rebuy the land on which she and her husband built their home; a two storey building. 195 Ejigbo Road has been home for 23 years.
“She took the case to court but touts locked her out. After struggling hard, she was able to take some of her clothes. While this case is still in court, they sold the windows and the roof this year bits by bits and even started building in her compound.”
Imagine your house being sold in bits over your head then finally being demolished.
I met 62 y/o Bolanle Babalola today. She's been a widow since 2017 & retired with delayed gratuity for years. Landgrabbers have insisted that she pays ₦5M to rebuy the land on which she and 1/5 pic.twitter.com/YmC5n8seIj
— Damilola! (@obiokeke_) November 21, 2021
Babalola, as narrated by Damilola, said the touts returned this past weekend and demolished the top storey and also destroyed part of the decking.
She subsequently called the police and its officers arrested the individuals involved, but they would be released on Monday (today) on bail, the narrator said.
“They carted away all that I have in the house too, 2 fridge, 1 deep freezer, washing machine, 1 standing and 2 table cookers, 2 gas cylinder, furniture, 6*6 bed and mattress, everything I have in my house including my clothes & my children clothes,” the widow was quoted to have cried out.
Damilola called on relevant agencies in Lagos State and good-spirited individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the widow, noting that she is helpless and her situation is been compounded by her health challenges.
“I can’t but help to put her story out her to anyone who could help on matters like this. She’s diabetic, and helpless,” he wrote.
