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The Lagos State Police Command has denied that officers fired at residents protesting the demolition of their homes on Wednesday, saying the operation was conducted without firearms.
The demonstration involved residents from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, and Oko Baba, who marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly demanding compensation, proper relocation plans, and justice for those who reportedly died in past demolition exercises.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, told Channels Television that no gunshots were fired during the protest.
He said he personally appealed to the demonstrators to remain peaceful, but noted that some continued to hurl abuses. He emphasised that police officers were trained to operate under pressure and did not react with firearms.
“No gun was fired. I was there. I was appealing to them to remain peaceful, but they continued to hurl abuses at me. As a police officer, I am trained to work under this kind of pressure, so I did not react.”
Olohundare also reported that the House of Assembly sent five members to engage with the demonstrators, but the crowd refused to comply, insisting on entering the premises.
“We spoke with the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who promptly, despite being in recess, sent five honourable members to appeal to them. Still, it fell on deaf ears because their aim was to enter the House of Assembly and cause mayhem, which we will not allow.”
Regarding the injured demonstrator, the police commissioner said an inspection by the area commander confirmed the injury was not caused by a bullet and likely occurred while fleeing from teargas.
He explained that the use of teargas naturally caused some injuries as people tried to leave the area.
The police reiterated that their goal was to maintain order and protect lives while warning that force would be applied if demonstrators refused to disperse.
Protesters had on wednesday carried placards reading “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders.”
Tensions escalated when the demonstrators were denied entry to the House of Assembly in Alausa, prompting the use of teargas.
Several people, including journalists and a nursing mother, were affected, and one demonstrator sustained a leg injury, which circulated on social media, sparking claims of a shooting.
