Banana Island Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos, has suspended all short-let and Airbnb operations within the community following a recent security breach linked to suspected criminal activity.
The decision was announced by the executive committee of the Banana Island Property Owners and Residents Association, Lagos (BIPORAL), which said the move was necessary to protect residents’ security, privacy, and peaceful coexistence.
According to the association, investigations revealed that criminals had been exploiting short-let apartments to gain access to the gated estate, significantly increasing security risks for residents.
In a statement, BIPORAL said:
“Following the recent security breach and the disruption of our long-standing peaceful coexistence, the executive committee has resolved to completely prohibit short-let and Airbnb operations across the entire Banana Island community, including both residential and commercial properties.”
The committee noted that the transient nature of short-let arrangements undermines collective security, residents’ privacy, and overall community cohesion.
The ban, which takes effect from Monday, February 9, was described as a difficult but necessary step to preserve the estate’s “safe, serene, and exclusive environment.”
BIPORAL also disclosed that police arrested members of a theft syndicate that had allegedly been operating within the estate for several months.
According to the statement, the suspects’ modus operandi involved renting short-let apartments in gated communities to carry out coordinated criminal activities.
The arrests followed a tip-off from a member of the estate’s security team, which led to a police raid on a short-let apartment at George Residences on Femi Pedro Street, with support from the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Onikan.
The operation resulted in the arrest of a principal suspect and four others, while vehicles, mobile phones, and a laptop were recovered and taken into police custody. Three additional suspects were later apprehended while attempting to retrieve one of the vehicles.
Further investigations reportedly uncovered stolen items and disguises connected to an overnight operation within Banana Island.
The association reassured residents of its continued commitment to protecting lives, property, and the estate’s legacy, adding that all the suspects have since confessed to the crime.
