How Ebonyi Gov’t, Law Makers Gave Succour to Over 1,000 Victims of Ilaje Village Demolition
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).
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.
According to him, on getting wind of the demolition of Ilaje village in Lagos by the Lagos State government from one Mr. Castus Agbafo, on Monday, March 10, 2025, he went into action and wrote a memo to the Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who swiftly mandated that all Ebonyi indigenes stranded at the Ilaje village be evacuated immediately.
He said the Governor provided enough mobility and adequate logistics for this purpose including two trucks and two luxury buses which evacuated Ebonyi indigenes, expressing regrets that many of the stranded indigenes insisted that they are not going anywhere.
He appealed to those of them who don’t want to come to change their minds and come back home where they can have shelter and a roof over their heads, further appealing to other indigenes who are still 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 evacuated 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 they were 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.
Receiving about 190 citizens of the Ilaje displaced persons in Iziogo, traditional ruler representing Izzi Local Government Area, Cyprian Nwekee, described their displacement as sad, adding that though no life was lost, they need to be properly resettled and financially empowered to enable them successfully reintegrate back into the society.
