The Lagos State Police Command and the state government have been condemned over the forceful breakup of a demonstration by residents protesting the demolition of their homes across Lagos.
Human rights groups, activists, and social media users strongly criticized the development.
The protest, held on Wednesday, saw hundreds of residents from communities including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, and Oko Baba gather in Ikeja to decry what they termed their displacement without adequate compensation or relocation plans.
Carrying placards with messages such as “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor,” “Urban poor is not a crime,” and “Lagos is not for the rich alone,” the demonstrators marched toward the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa.
At the assembly gate, Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh informed the protesters they would not be allowed entry into the legislative complex. Tensions rose as protest leaders insisted on meeting lawmakers inside the premises, even after some legislators came outside to address the crowd.
The standoff escalated when police officers fired tear gas canisters into the gathering. Thick smoke filled the area, triggering panic, scattering protesters, and injuring several individuals. Journalists covering the event were also forced to flee.
