Witness Recalls Scary Moment Dayo Alebiosu Dared Death To Reclaim Lagos Land

“The security team ran away. We were surrounded, and they had started hitting some of us, including the Permanent Secretary who came with us. D’Bush refused to back down. He faced the boys and their sponsors, threatening them as they threatened us. He told them they wouldn’t get away with what they were doing. He said they would have to kill him before they could hurt his people. He vowed that if he left the place alive, there would be hell to pay. It was scary,” a witness recounted, describing how the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, popularly known as D’Bush, braved life-threatening odds to secure access to the Okun-Ajah community in Eti-Osa in a bid to reclaim government land.

Continuing the narration, the witness added:
“The boys remained unyielding, but we stuck with D’Bush. It was a fiery face-off. Then someone shouted from beyond the terrifying spectacle, ‘D’Bush, D’Bush, kí ló ń ṣẹlẹ? (What is happening?)’ The same person bellowed at the boys, ‘Ṣe ẹ mọ̀ ní? D’Bush ni yẹn! Commissioner Èkó! Ọmọ Baba Bush! (Don’t you know him? That’s D’Bush, the Lagos Commissioner! The son of Elder Bush!)’ Instantly, the situation came under control. It was clear they knew who he was. It was like he had switched off a roaring fire. The situation was extremely tense. We had a very narrow escape.”

Checks revealed that the community had remained a no-go area for government agents since 2017, as armed individuals continually prevented access to state-owned land, which was being illegally sold to private individuals and businesses.

Previous efforts to reclaim the land reportedly met similar resistance. However, unlike others before him, Alebiosu—appointed commissioner in September, 2023—stood his ground.

The disputed area is a marshland waterfront reclaimed by the Lagos State Government and shared with indigenous landowners.

“It had been left alone for years, and encroachments were made into large portions owned by the state. Those behind the illegal sales, in collusion with some beneficiaries, resisted every attempt by government agencies to access the land since 2017,” an insider disclosed.

Sources further revealed that after the tense standoff was resolved and Alebiosu and his enforcement team gained entry into the Okun-Ajah scheme, a proper survey was conducted, and state-owned parcels of land were clearly marked.

Many of the residents, however, claimed they were unaware their properties were illegally acquired.

Those found to have illegally acquired land were given the option to ratify their ownership by regularizing their documents with the government—rather than face outright demolition.

Part of this process was the shutdown of about 185 buildings on Monday, June 23, 2025, due to failure to comply with official summons and notices. The measure is reportedly aimed at protecting investments and livelihoods, rather than destroying them.

According to sources, about 40 individuals who complied with the process have since received valid documentation, including electronic surveys (e-surveys).

The details of Alebiosu and his team’s narrow escape came to light during an investigation into the reasons behind Monday’s enforcement action by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development.

Since assuming office, Dayo Alebiosu has reportedly propelled Lagos into a high-octane phase of waterfront infrastructure development.

N.B.: The scary episode played out during his first visit to the community that had restricted government access, a couple of weeks after he was sworn in.