Several civil society organisations have condemned the Lagos State Government after the demolition of the Precious Seed community in Oworonshoki, describing the action as a direct violation of court orders and a grave injustice to more than 3,000 residents who were displaced without warning or resettlement.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, CEE-HOPE, Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), and Global Rights said the state’s most troubling action was its decision to defy a valid court injunction that expressly protects the community from forced eviction.
According to the groups, the demolition not only undermines the authority of the judiciary but also threatens other vulnerable waterfront communities across Lagos.
The statement explained that the operation began at dawn on 28 November 2025 when residents woke up to Task Force operatives and a LASEMA excavator stationed at the community gate. Community leaders and legal representatives quickly presented copies of the subsisting court injunction, even pasting the documents on buildings and the entrance gate, but officials reportedly insisted they were acting on government orders and would not stop.
Despite appeals, Task Force officers used force to clear the entrance, firing teargas at residents and their lawyers who attempted to prevent the demolition and urge compliance with the court order.
The organisations stressed that no building in the community had been marked for demolition, and residents received no official notice. They added that the only prior visit came a day earlier, when Task Force officers attempted to begin demolition but were stopped by a teacher who pleaded on behalf of pupils sitting for exams.
By the next morning, demolition teams returned with armed operatives, LASEMA officials, and agberos wielding sticks and machetes. Multi-storey homes, churches, and other developed structures were levelled, leaving families stranded without shelter or belongings.
The coalition warned that the incident sets a dangerous precedent for governance in Lagos, calling it an assault on the rule of law and human rights.
They urged the Lagos State Government to comply immediately with all existing court orders, halt further demolitions, and provide emergency relief and long-term support for the displaced residents while proper procedures and consultations are carried out.