The Lagos State Government has stepped up a major safety operation in Ikola following recent communal tension and the discovery of residential structures dangerously built beneath high-tension electricity transmission lines.

The operation, led by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), with support from the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), has seen the controlled demolition of structures located within the restricted power-line corridor.

Officials said the intervention became necessary after authorities identified the settlements as a serious threat to lives and property, with residents exposed to possible electrocution, fire outbreaks and other disasters.

The situation became even more urgent following a recent clash involving members of the Hausa and Yoruba communities in the area.

However, the government stressed that the demolition exercise is not targeted at any ethnic group, but is aimed at removing structures considered unsafe and illegally located within a high-voltage power-line right-of-way.

According to the authorities, affected residents were given prior notice and adequate time to evacuate and retrieve their belongings before demolition commenced.
LASEMA’s heavy-duty recovery equipment has now been deployed to the area as the agency clears structures within the statutory corridor of the transmission lines.

The operation, officials said, is being carried out under strict safety measures, with security personnel maintaining order while the demolition continues.
Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, urged residents to stop constructing buildings under electricity transmission lines, gas pipelines and other restricted corridors.
He also advised Lagos residents to consult the appropriate government authorities and obtain necessary guidance before commencing construction.

The government said while it recognises the need for shelter and livelihood, such rights must not come at the cost of exposing entire communities to avoidable disasters.
It further appealed to Ikola residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to cooperate with authorities as efforts continue to restore the power-line corridor and prevent future tragedies.

For now, officials say the situation in Ikola remains calm and under control, as the safety operation continues.