Police open fire on protesters, journalists at Lagos Assembly over demolitions

Police on Wednesday fired teargas to disperse protesters and journalists gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, during a demonstration against ongoing demolitions across parts of the state, triggering panic, injuries and condemnation from civil society groups.

The protest, organised by the Coalition Against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Land Grabbing, and Displacement, began at 7 a.m. at Ikeja Underbridge.

Hundreds of residents, joined by traders from areas like Owode Onirin and civil society groups, marched along Awolowo Road toward Alausa carrying placards reading “Save Our Souls” and “Stop the Killings, Stop Demolition of Our Homes.”

Led by activist Hassan Soweto, demonstrators insisted they supported development but opposed evictions that leave families homeless without compensation or resettlement. They accused the state government of breaching agreements, extending demolition boundaries beyond agreed 30-metre setbacks from high-tension power lines, and prioritizing elite real estate projects under the “Mega City” vision.

The demonstration remained peaceful until protesters reached the Assembly gates demanding entry to present grievances. At exactly 1:15 p.m., police fired teargas into the crowd, which included children and elderly women, witnesses said.

Media workers struggled to breathe while escaping, despite identifying themselves as press. Eyewitnesses claimed two female lawmakers (identities unconfirmed) instructed Jimoh Moshood, the Lagos state police commissioner to disperse the crowd and journalists.

Read also: Makoko: Lagos advised to align devt, urban safety with social justice

Kafayat Muftaudeen, a resident of the Oworonshoki community, was among those affected by tear gas during the incident. She received medical attention at Lagoon Hospital in Ikeja before being transferred to Lagoon Hospital in Ikoyi, where she is expected to be examined by a plastic surgeon.

Following this, protest leader Hassan Soweto was reportedly seized by an officer known as “Yellow.”

The violence follows a wave of demolitions in waterfront and inland areas like Makoko, Oworonshoki, and others since late December 2025 into January 2026.

A new SB Morgen report, “A Report on the Sentiment Following the Makoko Demolitions,” based on surveys of 100 affected residents and analysis of about 1,000 public voices, found 82 percent negative discourse, reflecting a “broad-based collapse of trust” in the government. Only 13 percent supported official safety justifications (e.g., power line setbacks), while residents decried selective enforcement, broken promises, and perceptions of land grabs for luxury developments.

The report highlighted moral outrage over alleged excessive force, including tear gas use that reportedly caused infant deaths, shifting narratives from urban planning to state brutality.

The Lagos state government has defended demolitions as essential for safety, public infrastructure, and environmental protection.

Gbenga Omotoso, commissioner for Information and Olajide Babatunde, special adviser emphasized enforcing setbacks to prevent disasters.

Civil society groups and residents, however, condemned the operations as anti-poor, lacking consultation, compensation, or alternatives.

The SB Morgen report warns of deepening class divides, cross-class solidarity against arbitrary enforcement, and risks of sustained resistance unless transparent verification, equitable laws, and credible resettlement are implemented.

Police have not issued an official statement on the protest violence or the rejected rally notification. No immediate casualty figures were confirmed, but organisers and witnesses described the scene as chaotic and traumatic.

Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.

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