The Lagos State Police Command has refuted allegations that its officers shot at protesters during a demonstration against the demolition of homes in parts of the state, insisting that no firearm was discharged at the protest.
Residents from communities including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and Oko Baba had marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday to demand compensation, proper relocation plans and justice over previous demolition exercises, some of which they claim resulted in loss of lives.
The protesters carried placards with messages such as “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders,” calling on the government to address their grievances.
Tension reportedly rose at the Assembly complex in Alausa when demonstrators were denied entry. PUNCH Online reported that teargas was fired to disperse the crowd, affecting several people, including journalists and a nursing mother, while one protester sustained a leg injury.
A photograph of the injured protester being assisted to a hospital later circulated on social media, triggering claims that the individual had been shot.
Reacting to the reports, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, dismissed the claims, stating that no gun was fired during the protest.
“No gun was fired. I was there. I was appealing to them to remain peaceful, but they continued to hurl abuses at me,” Olohundare said in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday. “As a police officer, I am trained to work under this kind of pressure, so I did not react.”
He said the police made efforts to resolve the situation peacefully, adding that leaders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, despite being on recess, sent five lawmakers to appeal to the protesters.
“Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears because their aim was to force their way into the House of Assembly and cause mayhem, which we will not allow,” he said.
Olohundare also dismissed claims that the injured protester suffered a bullet wound, explaining that the injury was examined by an area commander and found not to be gunshot-related.
According to him, injuries may have occurred as people tried to flee when teargas was deployed. “When teargas is fired, people run to leave the scene, and it is during that process that some may sustain injuries,” he said.
He added that no gunshot injuries were reported to the police during the operation, noting that teargas was used only after protesters were warned to disperse.
