The Lagos State Government has intensified safety operations in Ikola community following recent communal tensions and the discovery of illegal structures built beneath high-tension electricity transmission lines.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), is currently conducting a controlled demolition of structures located within the statutory right-of-way of the power lines.
The intervention followed a recent clash between members of the Hausa and Yoruba communities in the area, which authorities said also exposed a wider public safety concern posed by informal settlements beneath high-voltage power infrastructure.
According to LASEMA, structures erected under high-tension lines expose residents to serious risks, including electrocution, fire outbreaks and structural collapse, and violate established safety standards.
The agency said affected residents were given adequate notice and sufficient time to evacuate the area and retrieve their belongings before demolition commenced.
LASEMA said its heavy recovery equipment had been deployed to clear the structures and restore the power-line corridor to its intended purpose.
It added that the exercise was being conducted in a coordinated and orderly manner, with all personnel involved safe and the situation in the community remaining calm.
Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, urged residents to desist from erecting structures under power lines, gas pipelines and other restricted corridors.
He also advised residents to consult relevant government authorities and obtain necessary guidance before commencing construction.
The state government stressed that the operation was not targeted at any ethnic group but was aimed at eliminating a dangerous condition that poses risks to all residents within the affected corridor.
It said it would continue to engage community leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence, enforce urban planning regulations and guide residents towards safe and approved areas for settlement.
The government also appealed for continued cooperation from residents and security agencies as the safety operation continues.