Human rights groups, activists and social media users have condemned the Lagos State Police Command and the Lagos State Government following the use of tear gas and force against residents protesting the demolition of their homes across parts of the state.
The police dispersed hundreds of demonstrators who converged in Ikeja on Wednesday to protest what they described as displacement without compensation or relocation.
The protesters, drawn from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, Oko Baba and other communities, carried placards with messages such as: “A megacity cannot be built on the bones of the poor,” “Urban poor is not a crime,” and “Lagos is not for the rich alone.”
The protest began in the morning and gained momentum at the Ikeja Under Bridge, where demonstrators gathered before marching towards the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa.
At several points, the protesters demanded proper relocation plans if demolitions were to continue, as well as compensation for residents who allegedly lost their lives during previous exercises.
On arrival at the Assembly gate, the demonstrators were stopped by the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who told them they would not be allowed into the legislative complex.
The decision drew resistance from protest leaders, who insisted they would not leave unless they were allowed to engage lawmakers directly.
As tension escalated, some lawmakers stepped out to address the protesters, but the move was rejected, with demonstrators insisting that dialogue must take place within the Assembly premises.
Moments later, police officers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The area was engulfed in thick smoke, triggering panic as protesters fled in different directions. Several people sustained injuries, while journalists covering the protest scrambled for safety.
A videographer covering the protest collapsed after inhaling tear gas fumes, while a nursing mother was seen shielding her baby as she ran to safety. One protester sustained a leg injury after being hit by a tear gas canister.
Defending the action, Jimoh said the protest infringed on the rights of other road users and claimed protesters blocked the highway and assaulted him.
“Peaceful protest is allowed, but when it blocks a public highway, it becomes dangerous to lives,” he said.
“We used minimal force so millions of Nigerians who use that road could go to work.”
However, activist Yemi Adamolekun, who was present at the protest, dismissed the police account, insisting the protesters were peaceful and had not blocked the road.
“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.
Also reacting, Debo Adeniran, President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, condemned the use of force, describing it as a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights.
The Take-It-Back Movement also criticised the police action and called for the release of protesters arrested during the protest.
Confirming the arrests, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank were arrested for conspiracy and conduct likely to breach public peace and would be charged to court.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly said lawmakers attempted to engage the protesters but dialogue was rejected.
Efforts to get reactions from the state government were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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