Residents of the Ojulari community in Oworonshoki, Lagos, are crying out for help after bulldozers stormed the area late Saturday night, demolishing several houses under heavy police presence.
According to eyewitnesses, the demolition team arrived around midnight and continued into the early hours of Sunday, despite earlier protests that had stopped a similar attempt in the morning.
Two bulldozers and more than 50 armed policemen reportedly took part in the exercise, firing teargas at residents who tried to resist. “We didn’t sleep all night. They returned at midnight with full force. Even this morning, the demolition hasn’t stopped,” said one resident, Olanrewaju Segun.
Many residents say they have been left homeless, describing the incident as “a coordinated night assault” on their community. “People are stranded; families don’t know where to go. This is pure injustice,” another resident lamented.
Earlier on Saturday, the community had blocked an initial attempt to demolish homes in the Udi Araba area, a densely populated section overlooking the Lagos Lagoon. The return of the demolition team at night caught residents unprepared.
Some locals accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of backing the demolition to reclaim waterfront lands allegedly meant for private development. The monarch, however, denied any involvement, saying he too had been a victim of a similar government-led demolition in the past.
“I was also affected when I unknowingly built on land already acquired by the government. I have no hand in this operation,” he clarified.
The Baale of Oworonshoki, Chief Olorunwa Luwa, condemned the demolitions, insisting they were illegal and not sanctioned by any government authority. “If this were a legitimate government operation, it wouldn’t be happening at midnight. People with valid property documents are losing their homes,” he said.
As of Sunday morning, the bulldozers were still at work, leaving dozens of families displaced and many structures reduced to rubble.
Why This Matters:
The midnight demolition raises serious questions about due process, human rights, and housing security in Lagos. Residents are demanding answers from state authorities as fears grow over forced evictions targeting waterfront communities across the city.
