…Yemisi Shyllon’s Multi-Million Naira Investment Also Not Spared
Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed and valuables carted away from the Lagos Office of the Institute of Tourism Practitioners, ITPN, in Lekki by suspected hoodlums during the civil unrest that trailed the protests against police. Rutality that engulfed the country last week.
Otunba Ayo Olumoko, Regional Vice-President of ITPN, South West, made this known on Monday while leading an Emergency Inspection Team to establish the severity of the damage perpetrated at the office.
He disclosed that the hoodlums numbering about 200 descended on the mall and wreaked havoc in an organized manner from noon until about 6.30 pm while sparing no offices.
During the destruction and looting spree, Otunba Olumoko disclosed that several valuable ranging from over 60 laptops, 15 new Air Conditioners, Flat Screen Televisions, Executive Chairs, Tables, Files, and documents were carted away.
“We had thought that since our office is located in a mall, we were safe. Sadly, we were wrong and this destruction and vandalization is what we got. They went round all the offices in the mall, no office was spared.
“We are however grateful that no life was lost because we had instructed all our staff not to go to the office since there was unrest.
“We will try all we can to see how we can come back from this temporary setback. It is a challenge we have decided to take in our strides. To our fellows, colleagues and members, we may be knocking on your doors to see if you can assist the institution with one thing or the other,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to well-meaning colleagues and friends that have shown concerns since the unfortunate incident while conveying the good wishes of the National President of ITPN and encouraging members not to lose faith as this incident will only make the institute stronger.
He also appealed to the government to address the agitations of the youth in a timely manner so that peace can return not only to Lagos State but to the whole country at large.
ITPN is not the only Tourism and Art related establishment that was vandalized during the protest by hoodlums. Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Nigeria’s foremost art collector and the brain behind the Multi-billion naira Yemisi Shyllon Museum at Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, was also not spared as his private investment complex was badly hit in Lekki.
The renowned art collector and culture promoter expressed disappointment that his Lekki investment office complex was burnt down in the protests by the rampaging mob despite his not being a government official or contractor.
In a message shared in his behalf by concerned associates, Omobola Shillong said: “I was never and I am not a government employee, nor a contract-awarding or beneficiary of any sort. My life-long career was always in the private sector and only selflessly served in absolutely zero-earning executive capacities as chairman and member of some statutory boards. In such none executive capacities, I left behind observable selfless and verifiable legacies behind, where I served. I also built people, while so serving selflessly. I am now forced to wonder whether this is the kind of reward that patriots should expect from our country and people.”
It will be recalled that the ultra-modern, 400-seater Lagos Theatre in Oregun was also razed down during the carnage by hoodlums last Wednesday.
Fresh facts available to TCN showed that the edifice was totally looted in a coordinated manner by the mauraders before setting it ablaze. Air Conditioners, sound and lighting equipment, cables and panels among others were reportedly stolen before the theatre was torched.
