Hundreds of artisans operating under the Isheri-Idimu Powerline on Monday converged on the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest what they described as attempts to disrupt their means of livelihood.

The protesters told PUNCH Metro at the scene that suspected hoodlums, allegedly acting on the directive of the Chairman of the Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area, Idris Balogun, were seeking to convert their mechanic village along Oladun Road, Isheri-Idimu, for private use.

The artisans, who carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Save us from land grabbers,” “We need competency, decency, and normalcy at Egbe-Idimu,” and “Powerline belongs to the government, not Omo Onile,” appealed to the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly to intervene.

Speaking on behalf of the artisans, the Chairman of the mechanic village, Adeleke Odufeko, said the land was legally allocated to them by the Ministry of Transportation.

“It was the Ministry of Transportation that allocated the place to us to be used as a mechanic village. We have approval,” he said.

Odufeko explained that the artisans were instructed not to erect permanent structures on the land and had complied fully.

“We don’t have any permanent buildings there, only spaces where we keep our tools and belongings. The ministry told us to pay royalties to the two traditional rulers in Idimu and Isheri, and we have been doing this yearly,” he added.

He alleged that trouble began when Balogun, whom he described as a member of a royal family but not a monarch, demanded payments from the artisans.

“He came to us and said we should start paying him money. He is related to the royal families, but he is not the monarch. His father was the late monarch. He has been terrorising us since 2016,” Odufeko said.

According to him, the artisans had faced repeated harassment and arrests.

“There is no police station he has not taken us to. He even sent some of us to Ikoyi prison without any theft or crime committed,” he alleged.

Odufeko further claimed that despite a court order maintaining the status quo, violence broke out at the site late last month.

“When we could no longer cope, we took him to court in 2021. In 2024, the court ordered that the status quo be maintained and warned him not to interfere with us,” he said.

“But on November 29, we suddenly saw thugs, soldiers, and police. The thugs started destroying vehicles under repair and vandalising shops.”

He said officials of the Ministry of Transportation later intervened.

“After the destruction, we reported the incident to the ministry, which came with a task force last Thursday to dislodge the hoodlums. Shortly after they left, the thugs returned and started beating people again.

“The ministry came back and arrested some of them, but when we were told to return the next day, we learnt that some powerful people had secured their release. Since then, we have not known peace,” he added.

Odufeko told PUNCH Metro that the artisans had been prevented from working and that he was being targeted because of his leadership role.

“They shut down the entire place and warned us not to work. They have been chasing me around because I am the chairman of about 10,000 artisans. That is why we came to the Assembly for help,” he said.

Addressing the protesters, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency, Stephen Ogundipe, assured them that their complaints would be addressed.

“We are here on behalf of the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. We have listened to you and will table your grievances before him,” Ogundipe said.

“We appreciate that you remained peaceful. We will invite all parties involved, including the Ministry of Transportation and your representatives, and urge the House to expedite the probe. Please remain calm and law-abiding.”

Contacted on Monday, Balogun denied the allegations made by the artisans, insisting that the protesters had misrepresented the situation.

“They are lying. Some of them are not artisans. They are building permanent structures under the power line, which is not allowed,” he said.

Balogun further alleged that parts of the land had been illegally sold.

“Some of them connived with one of the monarchs to sell portions of the land. How can anyone sell land under a power line? The space belongs to the Federal Government and is under high tension,” he said.

The LCDA chairman said he had no personal dealings with the artisans.

“We have never met. I have never sat down with them. A company I previously ran had the power of attorney to ensure that nothing was built under the power line. I no longer run the company because I am now the chairman,” he explained.

Balogun added that the Federal Government authorised the company to monitor the area.

He said, “The only people allowed to operate there are petty traders. They are supposed to pay certain fees to the Federal Government. The company has been paying on their behalf.

“When the representatives went there to inform them that it was time for them to pay directly into the Federal Government account, that was when the problem started.” (The PUNCH)