In the heart of Ikeja, Lagos, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has stirred controversy by initiating the demolition of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) shopping complex.
Under the cover of darkness, four excavators, accompanied by heavily armed police officers, descended upon the complex around midnight, sparking concerns and protests.
The police authorities defended their actions, asserting that the planned demolition was executed in good faith and aimed at benefiting all parties involved.
Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi clarified that the demolition was a necessary step to pave the way for the immediate construction of a modern shopping complex on the same land, officially allocated to the wives of police officers and their relatives.
However, in response to the impending demolition, wives of police officers and other traders who own shops in the complex staged a peaceful protest in Ikeja. Allegedly, the state government had sealed the complex, intensifying tensions among the protesters.
Amidst the turmoil, concerns were raised about individuals claiming to be policemen and allegedly using the name of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) wife, Elizabeth Egbetokun, to carry out the planned demolition.
The immediate past Chairman of the complex, Tobechukwu Maxwell, expressed sorrow over the proposed demolition and implored Egbetokun’s intervention to prevent the alleged impostors from executing their plan.
Maxwell further appealed to the IGP to use his influence to halt the demolition and identify those behind the purported illegality for prosecution.
Current Chairman of the Computer Dealers Association, Tayo Shittu, echoed these concerns, stating that certain individuals falsely claimed to be acting on behalf of the IGP’s wife to carry out the demolition, adding another layer to the unfolding controversy.
