A group of long-term tenants at No. 5 Association Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos, has raised serious concerns over what they describe as a forced and unlawful eviction, allegedly executed by new property owners, Vivastar Nigeria Limited, and enforced with the support of law enforcement personnel.
According to multiple occupants—some of whom have lived and run businesses on the premises for more than a decade—the situation escalated after they were issued a sudden seven-day quit notice on May 13. The notice, they argue, did not follow appropriate legal channels, and the eviction was carried out in a manner that disregarded their rights.
One of the affected residents, Mr. Vincent Uba, who identified himself as the National Coordinator of the Tinubu Support Group, described the move as a misuse of both legal and security apparatus. “They blocked our entrance with heaps of sand, effectively locking in our vehicles and cutting off access. The police were not there to maintain peace but to amplify pressure on us,” he said.
Uba further alleged that officials from the Zone 2 Police Command in Onikan detained some of the tenants, including himself, after a petition was filed by the buyers’ legal representatives and backed by the Oyo State Ministry of Justice. He described the incident as “an attempt to criminalize a civil matter involving tenancy rights.”
The tenants are calling for an investigation into the alleged abuse of police authority and a review of the eviction process, insisting that due process must be followed in property disputes to preserve citizens’ rights and uphold the rule of law.
