Commotion As Police Disperse Protesting Lagos Residents

There was commotion in the Alausa area of Lagos on Wednesday when operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command fired tear gas and arrested some residents of Makoko and Iyana-Oworo who had stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest the demolition of their homes.

The protesters who had occupied the entrance to the state’s House of Assembly Complex to protest the ongoing demolitions in Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Ijora-Badia lamented that the state government carried out the exercise without adequate consultation, compensation or resettlement plans for them, thereby throwing them to the streets with no shelter.

The Protesters who brandished placards such as, “We have been rendered homeless, ‘’Our lives matter’’ “Save our homes”, and “Protect our communities,” among others, urged the government to halt the demolitions.

As the teeming protesters tried to force their way into the assembly complex, the police immediately built an urgent barricade and fired tear gas, which resulted in chaos with many of the residents and workers at the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, scampering to safety.

It was gathered that many of the protesters sustained injuries in the ensuing melee, while others were arrested by the police.

Ayodele Ademiluyi, Esq., the Lead Partner at Newworth LLP, a full-service law firm specialising in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) law, confirmed their arrest and demanded the immediate release of the activists, including their leader, Hassan Soweto, and one Jacob Akiri.

He also threatened to file a lawsuit against the Lagos State government if their demand is not met within the next 24 hours.

Ademiluyi said, “We act in the public interest for the Anti-Eviction activists who are currently being held on the orders of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

“The activists, mainly led by Hassan Taiwo Soweto, proceeded peacefully from Ikeja Under Bridge to protest the widespread demolition of homes belonging to the poor across Lagos State.

“Upon reaching Lagos House, Ikeja, they were met with armoured vehicles and tear gas, without any engagement from the governor.

“We hereby give notice that the detained activists must be released within 24 hours. Failing this, we will have no choice but to pursue legal action against the Governor of Lagos State and those enforcing oppressive measures that violate citizens’ rights in Lagos State.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has said that the insistence of the Leader of the protesters on the demolition at Makoko to gain entry into the Assembly Complex for engagement on Wednesday was unbecoming, as the House was in recess.

Chairman House Committee on Information Strategy and Security, Hon. Ogundipe Stephen, who spoke in the aftermath of allegations that a Police Officer threw tear gas at unarmed protesters said, “The House was officially on recess but not withstanding on receiving information about the protest, I mobilised four other members in the complex to engage the protesters in good faith outside the entrance gate”.

He further explained that the protesters led by Taiwo Hassan insisted on gaining access into the Assembly complex for any dialogue, even as the Honourable members posited that engagement could be held peacefully at the gate while their grievances would be duly documented and escalated appropriately.

Ogundipe noted, however, that the protesters flatly rejected dialogue at the gate and insisted on gaining access into the Assembly complex, in clear violation of established security protocols governing legislative premises.

He explained further that as the crowd became increasingly unruly and attempts were made to force entry into the Assembly premises, security operatives acted strictly within their constitutional responsibility to secure lives, property, and critical government infrastructure.

He stated further that the lawmakers had to leave the scene at the police’s advice to avert further confrontation.