Tension heightened in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos State on Sunday as armed policemen and suspected thugs reportedly attacked residents of Coker Street during a renewed demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Task Force.
The demolition, which resumed early in the day, triggered panic and chaos as residents resisted attempts to pull down their homes, leading to violent confrontations.
Eyewitnesses revealed that police officers and thugs used excessive force to disperse protesters, with several residents allegedly assaulted in the process. Teargas canisters were reportedly fired in parts of the community, including Miyaki, while demolition work continued in Ojeleru.
“They are firing teargas everywhere — people are running for their lives,” one resident said. “It seems demolition has started fully in Ojeleru.”
The exercise has sparked widespread fear of displacement, as thousands of families face the loss of their homes. Community members said the demolition has worsened Lagos’s housing crisis, with over 7,000 housing units already destroyed.
“We’re not just losing our homes; we’re losing our livelihoods and our sense of community,” another resident lamented. “What will we do without a place to call our own?”
Despite an earlier directive from the Lagos State House of Assembly ordering the task force to suspend further demolitions, the government reportedly continued with the operation, drawing criticism from activists and civil society groups.
Many residents are now appealing to the state government for intervention and support, citing the absence of relocation plans or compensation for those affected.
The Oworonshoki demolition has reignited debate about urban renewal policies in Lagos, with growing calls for a more humane and transparent approach to addressing informal settlements.
