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| Mr. Alaraba Muhammed-Salis |
Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon
The issue of illegal demolition of buildings by some individuals who take laws into their hands has been rampant in Nigeria, especially in the city of Lagos over the years.
On December 1, 2022, an incident reportedly happened at a market named after Folashade Tinubu Ojo, the daughter of the APC Nigerian President, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The market sited at Mile 13, Adekunle Bus Stop, along Ikorodu Road, Owode–Elede area of Lagos State, named "Folashade Tinubu Ojo (FTO) New Plantain Market," has been demolished. While sharing a sorrowful story of the incident with Bulkybon Periscopes, one major victim of the demolition, Mr. Alaraba Oluwatunmise Muhammed–Salis whose barbing-shop was destroyed lamented his ordeal.
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| One of his belongings destroyed |
He said “My shop is not sited on the disputed area affected by the illegal demolisher of a plantain market plaza near where my shop was built. Mr. Dele Abdul Akande is a landlord who shares boundary with my own landlord, Chief Adewale Teluwo. But Akande took laws into his own hands by destroying a building close to the one housing the sellers of plantain and other types of items in the guise of taking possession of the land.
“What pained me most is that my shop is not within the space where the disputed plantain market was built. Yet, without any legal authorization from any court of law, Akande demolished the plantain plaza and also partly encroached on Chief Teluwo’s land where my shop was built, and completely destroyed it and my belongings. His action has put me and my entire family into a serious crisis in these tough times.”
Lamenting further, the victim avers that “I am in a serious big debts situation right now. I took loans from various financial houses to set up my barbing saloon to the high standard it was before its illegal demolition by Akande.”
Alaraba says another demolished structure (measuring (10.973 mm X 4.572mm) was near the spot of the plantain market. He explains that “The illegally destroyed structure was where my shop was located. I rented it from Chief Teluwo. It was an entertainment place built above a raised surface at 3ft (0.914 metres) height from the ground level due to the fact that the entire landscape is a swampy environment. The area has been used for different entertainment activities such as a Football Arena (DSTV) Premium Super Sport show 24/7), Spanning Games (Playing Station Centre), T-World Gbajamo World (All-inclusive Barber Shop Palour), POS POINT (for all banking transactions) and T-World Marketplace Construction (for variety of business transactions).”
Nonetheless, he recounted his losses, saying that “I lost all the investments of my life and important items I bought over the years to equip my shop. Some of the items I lost include my books, various documents, MP3, radio transistor (my companion), a library of many tabloids of over ten years, data storage devices, used smart phones and gift items I pledged to give to my friends, relatives and customers. In addition, my memorable photographs, files, thesaurus, 8th, 9th, 10th editions of Oxford English Advanced Learners Dictionaries, and copies of business report et cetera, are among my irretrievable mementoes lost to the illegal demolition.
“The destroyed property was built on a marshland. Hence, all my clothes, shoes, trinket (ornaments), canvas (trainers), including generators, Sal wood, used 4 pieces of MP3, StarTime satellite / antenna model decoders (dish and terrestrial) model 265, water containers (drums, plastic baths and buckets) and FTA strong satellite decoder and so on and so forth are among the items destroyed.”
He also informs that “During the time of the illegal demolition, I was lying in bed suffering from vertigo-vestibular. The heartless demolition act caught me totally unaware. However, it was when I later visited the scene that I found out that all my things had been completely ruined. The value of some of my things destroyed are stated thus: -10.973mm x 4.572mm dimensions, raised surface with Sal wood media (Patako Eki, in Yoruba dialect) and entire floor is worth N1,700,000; -two pieces of play station 5 (Ps5) Component Player worth N650,000 each = N1.3m; -two pieces of ELEPAQ generator 3.8kva auto operation worth N450,000 each = N900,000; Model A13 5G Samsung 8 RAM Android 128 GB Internal Storage N250,000; four pieces of SMC model K ceiling fan worth N67,000 each = N268,000; -KDK standing fan N40,000; -three pieces of TMT and Excel wall fans worth N16,000 each = N48,000; and -Barber Shop 200 watts UV Sterilizer N45,000 respectively.”
In retrospect, the victim told Bulkybon how he began his business of hair cutting. Going down memory lane, he said “I began the business of cutting hair for people when I was in Form Four at Secondary School in 1984. I later proceeded to Government Technical College, Ajegunle, (AJETECH), Ogun State, where I bagged Levels I, II, and III with ILM City & Guilds Certificate London, in Graphic Art and Printing Technology between 1985 and 1988. I had rented the shop since May 5, 2014. This amounted to nine years 7 months and some days that I have been operating the barbing saloon before its illegal demolition.
“I turned 55 years old on November 11, 2022. This makes me wonder how and where I want to begin my life again. I am totally destabilized. I don’t know where to go or start again. The ruined building had been my home whenever I was away from my family because I reside at Ijoko -Ota, Ogun State. I usually go home every fortnight to see my family and other loved ones.
“I am using this avenue to call on fellow Nigerians and other kind-hearted folks worldwide, to kindly come to my aid right now, especially human right solicitors (Activists). I am helpless. Please, come and help me in this hour of my hopelessness. I don’t have any place to go, sleep or relax again whenever I am in Lagos to struggle to make a living to cater for my family. I have been hanging out with some kind hearted friendly customers since the devilish act happened on December 1, 2022.”
He further points out his pathetic situation by informing that “I have been sleeping here and there like a vagabond. The destroyed structure had been my home in Lagos since 5th May, 2014. Nigerians, where should I begin again? This question has remained unanswered since December 1, 2022.”
“After the nasty occurrence, my feelings have been in a very horrible state with low self-esteem and depression. I am begging for money and food to eat. I also have a family to cater for.” he concluded.
At present, Alaraba looks very pathetic and ill. He is appealing for assistance from the global public. Any person willing to help him to restore his business can call him through these mobile numbers: +2348033454920 and +2348024345322.
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