Three community activists, Bashiru Olaleye, Esther Koja, and Sabitiu Wouss, have been released from prison after being detained for nearly a week over their opposition to demolitions in Oworonshoki, Lagos.
The activists, supported by the Take It Back Movement and human rights groups, were accused of “killing a cow,” a charge they deny as fabricated to silence their voices against forced evictions.
The Take It Back Movement described their release as a victory for resistance and community solidarity, renewing calls for an end to police intimidation, forced evictions, and community repression.
The group is urging the Lagos State Government to provide adequate compensation and resettlement for displaced residents.
The Oworonshoki demolition has sparked widespread anger across Lagos, with residents accusing Oba Babatunde Saliu of using state-backed police and private thugs to grab land from the poor under the guise of “urban development”. The activists’ release comes after sustained pressure from the public and human rights groups.
