Demolitions: Lagos govt, police under fire over tear gas, arrest of protesters
Human rights organisations, civil society activists, and social media commentators have criticised the Lagos State Police Command and the Lagos State Government over the arrest of protesters and the use of force against residents demonstrating against the demolition of their homes across parts of the state on Wednesday.
The outrage followed the deployment of tear gas by police officers to disperse hundreds of protesters who converged on Ikeja to express opposition to what they described as forced evictions carried out without adequate compensation or resettlement plans.
The demonstrators, who came from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, Oko Baba and other affected communities, displayed placards with messages such as: “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor,” “Urban poor is not a crime,” “Stop killing us,” “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders,” and “Lagos is not for the rich alone.” Protesters also sang solidarity songs as they marched.
The protest, which began in the early hours of the day, gathered momentum at the Ikeja Under Bridge, where participants assembled before proceeding towards the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa.
At various points during the demonstration, protesters called on the state government to provide clear relocation arrangements if demolitions were unavoidable, and to compensate families who reportedly lost relatives during previous demolition exercises.
On reaching the Assembly gate, the protesters were met by the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who informed them that access into the legislative complex would not be granted.
This position was resisted by protest leaders, who insisted they would remain at the venue until they were allowed to enter the Assembly to directly engage lawmakers on their grievances.
As the standoff persisted, some members of the House reportedly stepped outside the complex to address the protesters. However, the demonstrators rejected the move, maintaining that meaningful dialogue could only take place within the Assembly premises.
Shortly afterwards, the situation escalated as police officers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The area was enveloped in thick smoke, causing panic and forcing protesters to flee in different directions.
It was gathered that several individuals reportedly sustained injuries, while journalists covering the protest also ran for safety.
Defending the police action during an interview with News Central Television, which was shared on the station’s verified X handle, Jimoh said the protest violated the rights of other road users.
He alleged that the demonstrators blocked a major highway, threw stones at him and verbally assaulted him.
“Peaceful protest is allowed, but when it obstructs a public highway, it becomes dangerous to lives, including those of the protesters themselves,” Jimoh said.
“I cannot allow vehicles to run over protesters under my watch. After four lawmakers addressed them and they still refused to disperse, I warned them to leave the highway. Instead, they pushed my officers, causing them to fall on their rifles.
“We applied minimal force, tear gas, so that millions of Nigerians who use that road could go to work.”
However, an activist who was present at the protest, Ms Yemi Adamolekun, disputed the police account, insisting that the demonstration was peaceful.
She denied claims that protesters blocked the road or attacked the police commissioner.
“They were calm, and at the point tear gas was fired, they were being asked to sit down so water and snacks could be shared,” she said.
“The police had already cordoned off the lane closest to the Assembly. These people are homeless, where exactly do you expect them to go? The claim that they blocked the road is false.”
Adamolekun added that the confrontation could have been avoided if the protesters had been allowed into a designated area within the Assembly complex for dialogue.
Also reacting, the President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Debo Adeniran, condemned the use of force against the protesters, describing it as a breach of citizens’ constitutional rights.
He said peaceful demonstrations should be addressed through engagement rather than repression, and called for disciplinary action against officers involved in firing tear gas.
Similarly, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, Oluwatosin Adeyemi, criticised the police response in a statement.
“Instead of listening to the legitimate demands of the people, the police responded with tear gas, brutality and arrests,” he said.
“Several protesters were injured, including one of the protest leaders, Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto. Peaceful protest is not a crime, and the use of force against unarmed residents seeking justice is unacceptable.”
The group also demanded the release of protesters allegedly arrested during the demonstration.
Confirming the arrests, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said two individuals, Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank, were apprehended for conspiracy and conduct likely to breach public peace.
She supported the commissioner’s claim that the protesters barricaded the road and said the suspects would be charged to court.
According to her, “As a result of these unlawful acts by the violent protesters, Taiwo Hassan (male, adult) and Dele Frank (male, adult) were arrested at the scene for conspiracy and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, obstruction of traffic flow and unlawfully restraining road users, contrary to the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
“They are currently under investigation and will be charged to court within the time limit prescribed by law. A white Toyota Canta vehicle with registration number Lagos LND 968 YL, fitted with multiple loudspeakers and two generator sets allegedly used to block the highway, was recovered as an exhibit.
“A coffin allegedly carried by the protesters to instil fear and disturb public peace was also recovered.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly denied claims that it ignored the protesters despite being on recess.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, the Assembly said lawmakers attempted to engage the protesters, but dialogue was rejected.
“Four lawmakers were mobilised to engage the protesters in good faith. However, they insisted on forceful entry into the Assembly complex,” the statement read.
The House added that one protest leader became verbally abusive, accusing the commissioner (of police) of murder, an allegation it described as reckless and unfounded.
