50 Dead Bodies Exhumed, 700 Houses Demolished Over Railway Standard Gauge

No fewer than 700 buildings have been demolished and 50 dead bodies exhumed from their graves by Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and families of deceased owners of the buildings respectively in the ongoing demolition of illegal structures along the Railway Corridor between Ebute-Metta Junction (EBJ) in Lagos and Ijoko , Ogun State.LEADERSHIP checks showed that about 5,000 people affected by the demolition exercise have since relocated to join their extended families and friends while others still lurk around their demolished buildings which range from residential buildings to churches, mosques, shops and private Schools, among others.LEADERSHIP Checks also shows that some of the dead bodies exhumed were buried over 20 years ago and that siblings of those exhumed for re-burial elsewhere vowed that Railway lines would never be built over their parents graves Our correspondent observed that traditional rites like pouring of Libation amongst others were performed before the dead bodies were exhumed for re-burial at other locations.Speaking on the demolition exercise, Deputy Director Civil Engineering and Chairman Reclamation Committee of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Anthony Onyokoko commended traditional rulers in most of the towns affected for their co-operation and enlightenment of their wards while the exercise lasted.He noted that prior to the arrival of the bulldozers, most owners of fully built up houses at Agbado, Itoki and Ijoko removed their roofing sheets and other valuables.The Deputy Director pointed out that the ongoing removal of illegal structures is aimed at paving the right of way for construction of Standard Gauge Railway line from Ebute-Metta Junction to Ibadan and Ebute-Metta Junction to Apapa.
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