[VIDEO] Police disperse Lagos eviction protesters with tear gas

Police officers on Wednesday fired tear gas to disperse residents protesting ongoing demolitions and forced evictions across parts of Lagos State, as demonstrators gathered around the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Ikeja.

The protest, which started peacefully at Ikeja Under Bridge, was organised by displaced residents from Makoko, Owode Onirin and Oworonshoki communities. The protesters accused authorities of carrying out violent eviction exercises during which some residents were allegedly killed.

Armed with placards and coffins, the demonstrators demanded justice for the victims, prosecution of those responsible for the alleged killings, compensation for affected families, and an end to what they described as systemic land grabbing in the state.

Eyewitnesses said the situation became tense when the protesters attempted to move closer to the House of Assembly complex, prompting security operatives to deploy tear gas to break up the gathering.

The protest has drawn public attention following earlier condemnation by former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who criticised the demolition of structures at the Makoko waterfront. He described the exercise as a violation of residents’ rights and urged the government to embrace consultation and inclusive urban planning.

In a video shared on his X account earlier, Rhodes-Vivour called on authorities to protect the livelihoods of affected residents and consider alternatives such as resettlement and skills acquisition rather than what he described as “brute force” displacement.

“No matter the local government involved, we all need each other. In this case, we need justice for poor Makoko,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has defended the demolitions, maintaining that they were carried out in the interest of public safety. Speaking after signing the N4.4 trillion 2026 appropriation bill, the governor said the actions were necessary to avert potential disasters, particularly in areas beneath high-tension power lines.

“The safety of lives and property is paramount. Of what interest would it be for the government to demolish anyone’s structure if not for the overall safety of citizens?” Sanwo-Olu said.

He further warned that some structures had dangerously encroached on the Third Mainland Bridge and claimed that some non-governmental organisations opposing the demolitions were pursuing ulterior motives.

The governor assured that palliative measures, including relocation options, grants and other forms of support, were being provided to affected residents to cushion the impact of the demolitions.

Watch video below: