The Lagos State Government has commenced the demolition of illegal shanties and informal structures built beneath high-tension electricity lines in the Ikola community of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.
The exercise followed a recent communal clash in the area that reportedly claimed the lives of four people and left several others injured.
The demolition is being coordinated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, with support from the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad.
According to the state government, the operation is aimed at addressing safety and environmental risks associated with structures erected within the right-of-way of high-voltage electricity transmission lines.
LASEMA said the recent clash involving members of different communities brought renewed attention to security concerns and the dangers faced by residents living in makeshift settlements beneath power lines.
The agency noted that such structures expose occupants to serious risks, including electrocution, fire outbreaks and possible structural collapse.
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Authorities said affected residents were given prior notice and sufficient time to evacuate and remove their personal belongings before the demolition commenced.
The government stressed that the exercise was not targeted at any ethnic group but was necessary to eliminate dangerous structures threatening lives and property.
The four deaths occurred during unrest reported around the Power Line Bus Stop in Ikola, where a disagreement allegedly escalated into violence.
The Lagos State Government said it would continue to engage community leaders and other stakeholders to maintain peace, promote compliance with urban planning regulations and prevent further loss of lives.
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