Residents of Ojulari community in Oworonshoki, Lagos, have cried out after government demolition teams reportedly returned late Saturday night to pull down their homes without prior notice, dialogue, or any plan for resettlement. The operation, which continued into Sunday morning, left dozens of families displaced and homeless.
Eyewitnesses said two bulldozers were deployed for the demolition, accompanied by about 50 armed police officers who allegedly fired teargas throughout the night to disperse protesting residents. The affected community members described the incident as “inhumane and unjust,” claiming that the exercise resumed after an earlier attempt had been halted in the morning.
“We didn’t sleep at all because the demolition people and police came back after we stopped them in the morning. Even now, Sunday morning, they are still demolishing,” lamented Olarenwaju Segun, one of the residents. “More than fifty police officers were shooting teargas at protesters as they destroyed buildings. People don’t know where to go. This is unfair to humanity.”
Videos circulating online show residents wailing and salvaging what little they could from the rubble as bulldozers flattened homes in the densely populated area. Many of the victims claim they received no official notice or compensation from the Lagos State Government prior to the demolition.
Community leaders have appealed to the government for immediate intervention and humanitarian assistance for displaced families, urging authorities to explore peaceful dialogue instead of force.
The Lagos State Government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the demolition as of the time of this report.
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