Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos — Nigerian police officers deployed tear gas against residents protesting forced home demolitions in Lagos State on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, triggering injuries, arrests and widespread denunciation from human rights groups, activists and civil society organisations. The incident occurred outside the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, where hundreds of demonstrators had gathered to oppose demolition activities they say have displaced thousands of families without adequate notice, consultation, compensation or resettlement arrangements.
Protesters, many of them from waterfront and informal settlements including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode Onirin, Otumara and Baba-Ijora, marched from the Ikeja Under-Bridge towards the Assembly, carrying placards decrying what they described as illegal demolitions and calling on the government to halt forced evictions. Videos and eyewitness accounts show police officers blocking entry to the Assembly complex and firing tear gas canisters into the crowd to disperse demonstrators who insisted on engaging lawmakers directly.
While the Lagos State Police Command maintained that tear gas was used as “minimum force” to prevent obstruction of the road and protect public order, local activists and witnesses contend the protest was largely peaceful and that the deployment of tear gas was unnecessary and harmful. In some instances, journalists covering the demonstration were also caught in the tear gas and sought refuge to avoid inhalation injuries.
Medical reports from the scene indicate several protestors sustained injuries, including a woman identified as Kafayat Muftaudeen, who was treated for a tear gas-related wound to her leg at Lagoon Hospital in Ikeja. Other demonstrators and observers described being struck by canisters or overcome by fumes, while some were reportedly arrested during the operation.
The police action sparked immediate condemnation from a range of human rights organisations and civil society groups. The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) described the crackdown as “violent, unlawful and reprehensible,” alleging that officers fired tear gas directly at unarmed residents and journalists, and calling for the release of detained protesters. CAPPA’s statement also accused the state government of showing disregard for constitutional rights and human dignity in its handling of the protests.
Similarly, the Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR) demanded the immediate release of activist Hassan Taiwo Soweto and other detained demonstrators, warning that excessive use of force against peaceful protestors could inflame tensions and undermine public trust in state institutions. SNWR and allied groups framed the response as a violation of constitutional protections for freedom of assembly and expression.
Other advocacy organisations, including Socialist Labour, echoed these criticisms, decrying the police response as an attack on citizens’ rights and condemning the arbitrary arrests of peaceful demonstrators. They argued that displaced residents were exercising legitimate civic rights in calling for justice and government accountability over demolition policies they say have worsened housing insecurity and deepened socio-economic hardship.
The protests follow ongoing demolition exercises carried out by Lagos State authorities in several working-class and waterfront communities, part of what the government has characterised as urban renewal and safety initiatives. Critics, however, contend that these actions have frequently occurred without meaningful engagement with affected residents or adequate compensation, sparking tensions and legal challenges. Some civil society statements referenced previous court orders alleged to have restrained such demolitions, though they were reportedly disregarded.
The contentious nature of the demolitions and the response to the protests have raised broader concerns about civil liberties and policing in Nigeria’s largest city. Activists insist that authorities must respect citizens’ rights to peaceful protest and provide redress mechanisms for those impacted by forced evictions. They have called on both the Lagos State government and federal institutions to initiate independent investigations into the conduct of security forces and to ensure accountability for any unlawful use of force.
In response, some state officials have defended the deployment of tear gas, asserting that police were acting to prevent escalation and protect infrastructure, though they have denied using live ammunition. The Lagos State House of Assembly has also publicly distanced itself from decisions regarding the use of force, stating that no lawmakers ordered police action against the protestors.
As of this reporting, details on the total number of injuries and arrests remain incomplete, and community representatives continue to call for justice, compensation and a halt to demolition exercises until grievances are adequately addressed.
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