Daniel Anozie
Some residents of Lagos State whose property and buildings were affected by the June 3, 2012 Dana Airline crash, on Wednesday, embarked on a peaceful protest over non-payment of compensation.
The protesters were seen as early as 8:00 a.m. around some streets in Ikeja such as Allen Avenue/Opebi road causing gridlock.
The protesters were carrying placards with various inscription reading: ‘Dana is yet to pay a dime for property destroyed’; ‘Dana is back to business but we are still out of businesses; ‘National Assembly should call Dana to order’; ‘The blood of the innocent souls cry for justice’.”
One of the protesters and a victim, Daniel Omowunmi, said that his warehouse and other property were destroyed by the crash, adding that the airline had not paid him a kobo.
He said that he lost about N500 million from his warehouse and publishing house damaged by the plane crash.
“They have not paid a dime and they are not even ready to pay,” he said. “So I think I better come to their door step. I will go to court, that will be the last option. I will not leave any stone unturned before going to court. I will go all out after them with everything I have.”
Members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) joined the protesters.
Staff of the airline locked themselves inside the building for fear of being attacked, while police officers were deployed to the scene to forestall any violence.
No official of the airline addressed the protesters.
