Olanike, the wife of car dealer Ayodeji Soetan, finds herself hospitalized after their landlady, Juliet Akano, allegedly led a group of thugs to vandalize and break into their apartment in the Tijani Bello area of Ojodu, Lagos State.
Soetan recounted the incident, stating that Akano, accompanied by suspected thugs, forcibly entered the premises of the two-storey building. One of the individuals used a sledgehammer to demolish doors and windows, eventually breaking into Soetan’s apartment. The sudden demolition had severe consequences, causing shock to Soetan’s wife, who had previously suffered a pregnancy loss. As a result, she was rushed to the hospital due to high blood pressure.
Soetan explained, “I had left home in the morning when my wife called to tell me that the landlady came with some people to vandalize my flat which is on the ground floor of the building. And by the time I got home, they had vandalized my door, including my bedroom and kitchen windows.”
He further alleged that one of the men assaulted a neighbor who tried to prevent them from proceeding with the demolition. Soetan emphasized that the landlady, Akano, remained silent during the entire incident.
Soetan claimed there was no prior notice from the landlady before the demolition, and he expressed his willingness to pay the rent due in May. However, Akano reportedly refused to accept the payment and did not engage in any dialogue.
The car dealer also disputed Akano’s claim that the vandals were government officials, stating, “Before this incident, she had brought some people to mark the house, claiming they were Lagos State Government officials. She said the people who vandalized our property were government officials too. But when I made my findings, I found out that they were not from the state government.”
Efforts to reach Akano for a response were initially unsuccessful, as she dropped the call when contacted. A text message sent to her was still unanswered at the time of this report. The incident raises concerns about property rights, tenant-landlord relations, and the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts.
