Over recent weeks, armed militants have stepped up their attacks in the coastal areas of Lagos and Ogun States, taking their fight beyond its traditional heartland of the Niger Delta. There have been reports of villages being sacked, violent robberies, rape, extorting and whole communities held to ransom.
Last week, following an attack by militants in Igbo-Olomu and Isawo areas of Ikorodu, residents fled hurriedly to avoid being killed. According to the head of the Olomu family, the main landowner in Igbo Olomu, this has resulted in a lot of people selling their property and fleeing to safe areas.
Real estate agent, Ojo Alaso, said: “I cannot blame them as all the things happening here are enough to scare anyone. Honestly, I know this problem will be addressed one day but people have become so scared of the attacks that they are having a rethink about living here.
“One of the men who told me to help resell his land already planned that by the end of this year, he might start the construction works but he called me early in the week to inform me that he was no longer interested in the building plan. They are even willing to sell the lands below the market value.”
According to another real estate agent, David Ashana, in Igbo-Olomu, a plot of land close to the major road is sold for between N3m and N4m, while in Isawo, it goes for up to N5.5m. He added that these plots are now being sold for lesser prices as for instance, one woman who bought a land in the area for N900,000 about seven months ago had now put it up for sale for N500,000.
One human rights activist said: “We were there when the militants first killed nine people in our area and right now, no fewer than 40 residents have been killed in the community. They even beheaded some of the victims and took their heads away, so people selling their lands and houses are not overreacting at all.”
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