Community Calls On Gov. Sanwo-Olu To Investigate Demolition Of Saint Margaret Group Of Schools

The community hosting Saint Margaret Group of Schools in Ikorodu, Lagos, has staged a protest, urging Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to stop the demolition of the school facilities by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), some armed security personnel and unauthorised individuals, commonly known as touts.

The school was established 42 years ago, in 1982, at 26 NBC Road, Ebute, Ikorodu.

During the protest, the protesters, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, issued a clarion call to Sanwo-Olu, requesting his intervention to halt the actions of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), which arrived with fully armed security personnel and unauthorised individuals, commonly known as touts, to prevent any further illegal demolitions of their school facilities.

During the protest, the School’s Proprietor, Pastor Olusegun Alonge, was joined by teachers, parents, staff, and members of the community in calling on Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Chief Lagos Landlord, to intervene in the attacks on the Lagos Building Control Agency led by Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, to stop the illegal demolition of the Saint Margaret group of schools.

He condemned the agency’s actions on the school, which was established on the property over four decades ago, claiming that the group of schools was severely damaged as a result of the agency’s invasion without any reasonable prior notice of government demands for payment or policy compliance.

When asked if the school lacked complete building documentation, which could have prompted the agency’s visit, the proprietor responded positively, stating that they have a collection of documents for all of their building facilities.

Alonge went on to say that one of the actions he took following the incident was to visit the office of the LASBCA’s General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, but he was denied an audience during his first visit.

He claimed that during his subsequent visit a few days later, he was escorted out by the same General Manager and threatened.

He stated: “The General Manager warned that if precautions were not taken, he would direct the building control agency to downgrade the school. He boasted about Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s support for his activities.

The Proprietor, who appears to have not fully recovered from the trauma of the demolition, issued a strong appeal to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to intervene and reopen the school.

He stated that he still believes in the Sanwoolu government’s ability to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

During the incident, some school staff members on duty claimed that the actions of those attempting to demolish the school were similar to those used by kidnappers or bandits.

They claimed that the agency’s task force entered the school without identifying themselves to the gate security personnel. When questioned about their identities, some task force members began photographing and filming the school facilities without disclosing who they were.

Teachers and security personnel attempted to prevent this unauthorised action but were met with resistance.

They also claimed that the task force on site summoned additional security personnel and unauthorised individuals, who arrived in large numbers and began demolishing buildings and causing damage to several classrooms.

They claimed that as this was taking place, students taking exams in their respective classrooms were forcibly evacuated, with threats of violence issued to anyone who did not comply with the orders.

They claimed that “teachers and young children were chased onto the main road outside the school grounds.”

“During the commotion, the students and kindergarten children were in a state of panic, wailing loudly at the sight of gun-wielding personnel and intimidating-looking touts accompanying them out of their school. Some of them were threatened with guns and forced to leave the school.”

During the protest, Mr Lawani Dominion Abiola, Coordinator of the group of schools, appealed to the governor to use his good office to rescue the school from the attack of the Building Agency, stating that no notice of whatever intention was served the school for any purpose before the attack committed on March 27th, 2024 around 2 pm while students were still writing examination papers, nothing less than five staff of the school were arrested and whisked down to Badagr

Some of the parents who happened to witness the commotion on that day, Mr Obamude Omoniyi and Mrs Enny Jones, condemned the agency’s Gestapo approach, suggesting a more civilised method of operation as an elite agency in Lagos State. Omoniyi described his ongoing efforts to persuade his son, who has vowed never to return to the school or any other school after their traumatic encounters with armed men. In his words, he quoted the son verbatim: ‘Daddy, I have been watching that kind of gun in the cartoon but never knew anyone could bring such a weapon to our school to threaten us, so I will not attend any school anymore because school is no longer safe.

According to some community residents and local businesswomen who attended the school protest on March 27th, 2024, the neighbourhood witnessed an unprecedented event. They also described the incident as bandit operations, which had been reported in radio broadcasts and newspapers. In a heartfelt appeal, they urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, known for his responsible and responsive leadership, to intervene and address the building agency’s excessive and unethical conduct. These emotionally charged mothers expressed concern about tarnishing the governor’s reputation and the good work for which he is known.