Heavily armed Police officers have surrounded Ikeja under bridge, where a protest against forceful eviction and demolition of houses in Lagos waterfront communities is scheduled to kick off today, January 26. The protest organised by a group called Coalition against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Land grabbing and Displacement in Lagos State, is against ongoing demolitions and …
Lagos Demolitions: Armed Security Officers Surround Protest Venue in Ikeja
Heavily armed Police officers have surrounded Ikeja under bridge, where a protest against forceful eviction and demolition of houses in Lagos waterfront communities is scheduled to kick off today, January 26.
The protest organised by a group called Coalition against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Land grabbing and Displacement in Lagos State, is against ongoing demolitions and forced evictions of residents of Makoko, Oko Agbon, Shogunro, Otumara Oworonshoki, Owode Onirin and Ajegunle.
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The organisers alleged that the demolitions are part of a broader effort by the state government and private interests to acquire land to build hotels and luxury residential houses at the expense of the poor residents being evicted.
In a notice shared with Pinnacle Daily, the group said the demonstration would begin at 7 am, and proceed to the government house in Alausa. However, as at 9 am, the protest is yet to commence.
One of the organisers of the protest who didn’t want to be named told Pinnacle Daily that the delay in commencement of the protest is because most of the protesters coming in groups from Makoko to Ikeja have been blocked on the road by the police.
Initially, the Lagos State Police Command rejected notification for the protest, but the protesters insisted on proceeding with it.
He said it took the intervention of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, who called the Commissioner of Police demanding why the police is not accepting the notice of the demonstration.
With the heavy deployment of police and also officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and gradual assemblage of protesters, there is increasing traffic around the area.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
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