The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned what it described as the violent and unlawful actions of the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Police Force against hundreds of peaceful protesters voicing grievances over illegal demolitions and forced evictions.
The protest took place on Wednesday at the Lagos State House of Assembly, where displaced residents, including elderly men and women from waterfront and low-income communities, marched to present their concerns over ongoing demolitions. CAPPA reported that police officers, led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, attacked the crowd with tear gas, injuring several protesters and journalists.
Among those detained was Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, a member of the #EndBadGovernance Movement, along with other demonstrators including Comrade Jacob Akiri and Evangelist Isaac Doosuga, a septuagenarian from Makoko. CAPPA demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested.
The organisation described the crackdown as a flagrant violation of constitutional rights and part of a pattern of repression and lawlessness by the state government. CAPPA also noted that the police seized personal belongings and work tools from protesters, including electronic devices, personal handbags, and a music van with speakers.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right. There is no justification for the use of tear gas or force against unarmed citizens and journalists,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director.
CAPPA further highlighted that 12 people have reportedly died in Makoko, including a five-day-old baby, as a result of forced demolitions, adding to the suffering of displaced communities.
The organisation also called for the suspension of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, for his role in the violent dispersal and urged the government to halt all demolition operations across the state. CAPPA demanded independent investigations into the reported killings and excessive use of force, with those responsible held accountable.
CAPPA warned that it would mobilise civil society, affected communities, and the public if the government fails to meet these demands, emphasising that civic space and the protection of human rights must be prioritised in Lagos State.
Share this
