Condemnation over police crackdown on Lagos anti-demolition protesters

Policemen

Human rights groups, activists and social media users have condemned the Lagos State Police Command and the Lagos State Government over the arrest and the use of force on residents who protested the demolition of their homes across parts of the state on Wednesday.

The condemnation followed the police’s deployment of tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who converged in Ikeja to protest what they described as their displacement without adequate compensation or relocation.

The protesters, drawn from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, Oko Baba and other communities, carried placards bearing inscriptions 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.” They also chanted solidarity songs.

The protest began in the morning and gathered momentum at the Ikeja Under Bridge, where demonstrators converged before marching towards the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa.

At different points, the protesters demanded proper relocation plans if the government was determined to demolish their homes, as well as compensation for residents who reportedly lost their lives during previous demolitions.

On arrival at the Assembly gate, the demonstrators were stopped by the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who informed them that they would not be allowed access into the legislative complex.

The police chief’s stance drew resistance from the protest leaders, who insisted they would not leave unless granted entry to engage directly with the lawmakers.

As tension mounted, some lawmakers stepped outside to address the protesters, but the move was rejected, with demonstrators insisting that a dialogue could only take place within the Assembly premises.

Moments later, the standoff degenerated into chaos as police officers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.