A Lagos resident has accused her landlord of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful eviction practices following a controversial rent increase, alleging that the disconnection of electricity to her apartment resulted in injuries that required medical attention.
The tenant claimed she was hospitalised alongside her son after suffering a fall in complete darkness caused by a 72-hour power outage allegedly imposed by the landlord amid an ongoing dispute over rent and eviction.
According to her, the conflict began when her landlord increased the rent by more than 390 percent. She said she requested a staggered payment plan, which was approved, and insisted that she complied with the agreed arrangement.
The resident further alleged that the landlord had previously forced out four of the six families occupying the building in a bid to secure tenants willing to pay higher rents.
She explained that she eventually accepted the new rental terms despite facing personal challenges, including caring for her ill mother and her son. She said she had appealed to both the landlord and facility management for understanding regarding her circumstances.
Questioning the landlord’s approach, the tenant argued that any eviction process should be conducted through the courts and in line with legal procedures rather than through acts she described as intimidation.
She also alleged that electricity was disconnected exclusively to her apartment while other residents in the estate continued to enjoy power supply, describing the action as an attempt to force her out of the property.
The woman maintained that she had lived in the estate peacefully for five years without any disputes or complaints from neighbours or management.
Expressing concern over what she described as a growing trend in Lagos, she alleged that many landlords were increasingly seeking to remove existing tenants to make way for occupants capable of paying higher rents amid rising housing costs.
Calling for government intervention, the resident said the incident reflects wider challenges facing tenants across the state and urged victims of similar experiences to speak out against harassment and unlawful eviction practices.
