Human Rights Groups condemn Police crackdown on Lagos anti-demolition protesters
Human rights groups, activists, and social media users have condemned the Lagos State Police and government for their treatment of residents protesting home demolitions on Wednesday.
Police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Ikeja who claimed they were being displaced without adequate compensation or relocation.
Protesters from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, and other communities carried placards with messages such as “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Lagos is not for the rich alone.”
The protest began at the Ikeja Under Bridge and moved towards the Lagos State House of Assembly, where protesters demanded proper relocation plans and compensation for those affected by previous demolitions.
However, they were confronted by Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh, who denied them access to the Assembly, claiming the protest blocked public highways.
Tension escalated as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, causing panic and injuries among protesters and journalists. In defence of the police actions, Jimoh stated that while peaceful protest is allowed, blocking roads poses a danger to all.
“Peaceful protest is allowed, but when it blocks 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 used minimal force —tear gas— so millions of Nigerians who use that road could go to work.”
However, an activist, Ms Yemi Adamolekun, who was present at the protest, faulted the police account. She said the protesters were peaceful and denied claims that they blocked the road or attacked the commissioner.
“They were calm, and at the point when tear gas was fired, they were being asked to sit down so water and snacks could be shared.
“The police had already blocked the lane closest to the Assembly. These people are homeless—where exactly do you expect them to go? Saying they blocked the road is false,” she said.