The quiet of the night was shattered in Oworonshoki, Lagos, as bulldozers from the Lagos State government rolled through the community, flattening dozens of homes and leaving families stranded under the open sky. By morning, sorrow and disbelief filled the air — broken walls, scattered belongings, and the haunting sound of children crying over what used to be home.
Residents gathered in small groups amid the ruins. Some cooked on makeshift stoves; others lay on mats, staring at the night sky with nowhere else to go. Most declined to speak to reporters, saying they had lost faith in a system that “doesn’t listen to the poor.” But one resident, Idris Adeleke, couldn’t hide his pain. Fighting tears, he said, “We have no home. Our children can’t go to school. The government that should protect us came in the night and destroyed everything.”
Another displaced man added bitterly, “We are not criminals. We are Lagosians. All we ask is to be treated like human beings. If they must take our land, they should at least compensate us.” Many residents believe the operation was a land grab, alleging that the cleared areas are being prepared for private development rather than urban renewal.
Plans for a youth protest were cut short when police officers flooded strategic areas like Third Mainland Bridge, Ojota, and Lekki Toll Gate, stopping the demonstration before it began. Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, defended the heavy presence, warning that public disorder would not be tolerated and that “Lagos must remain peaceful.”
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), however, condemned the demolition as “a clear case of contempt of court.” He revealed that a Lagos High Court injunction had halted any demolition in the area, yet the state ignored it. “The government cannot demolish homes under the guise of enforcement when a court order is in place,” Falana said, vowing to seek justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government defended its actions. Commissioner for Environment Tokunbo Wahab insisted that the demolition was necessary to reclaim drainage paths and prevent environmental hazards. He said affected residents were duly notified. Supporting him, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Oluyinka Olumide, cited a 2003 Supreme Court judgment backing the state’s right to protect waterfronts.
As the dust settles, hundreds of families in Oworonshoki now face an uncertain future — with only memories of their homes and the hope that someone, someday, might listen to their cries.
