Lagos Task Force Beat Man to Coma, Fired Tear Gas at Me” – Rhodes-Vivour Blasts Govt Over Ilasan Demolitions

Former Lagos governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has accused the Lagos State Government of lawlessness and violence over the demolition of homes at Ilasan, Jakande Estate, despite a court injunction. He said he personally witnessed Task Force operatives beat a resident into a coma, assault others and fire tear gas at him when he confronted them. Describing the action as land-grabbing, he criticised the reported ₦11.2 million compensation as inadequate and warned that demolitions for private development would deepen poverty and homelessness, calling for humane, inclusive urban development.

BREAKING: Makoko Youth Leader, Oluwatobi Aide, Released After 3 Days in Lagos RRS Detention Over Demolition Protest

Oluwatobi Aide, a youth leader of the Makoko waterfront community, has been released after spending three days in detention by the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) over a protest against demolition activities.

Aide regained his freedom at about 7:03pm on Wednesday, following widespread public outcry and the intervention of prominent human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).

The incident has renewed concerns over the handling of peaceful protests and the rights of marginalized communities in Lagos.

Question: Should citizens be detained for speaking out against demolitions that affect their livelihoods?

#Makoko #LagosState #HumanRights #NigeriaNews

Who Is Responsible for Oworonshoki’s Death Traps? How Exposed Electric Cables From Illegal Demolitions Killed a Lagos Teen After Oba-Ordered Evictions

How did a demolition exercise in Lagos turn into a deadly public hazard? And why were dangerous electric cables left exposed for months in a residential community?

Another teenager has been electrocuted in Oworonshoki, Lagos State, after coming into contact with live electricity wires abandoned following what residents describe as illegal demolitions ordered by the Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom, Oba Saliu Babatunde. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has intensified outrage over the failure to remove or secure exposed cables after buildings were pulled down late last year.

According to community members who spoke to SaharaReporters, the demolitions carried out in November 2025 left behind dangling electric wires and open power lines, effectively turning streets and former residential areas into death traps. Despite repeated complaints, the hazardous infrastructure was never cleared, ultimately leading to the fatal electrocution of a young resident. A photograph obtained at the scene reportedly shows the teenager lying lifeless on the ground.

This latest death adds to a series of traumatic events linked to the demolition exercise. On November 25, 2025, SaharaReporters documented how two young girls returned from school to find their home allegedly burned down during the operation. In a widely circulated video, the children—one still in school uniform—described how their house was destroyed while their parents were at work, with no opportunity to retrieve personal belongings.

Residents allege that police officers and local vigilantes known as “Madanwo” participated in the operation, acting on the monarch’s directives. Bystanders in the footage accused authorities of burning houses without notice, arresting residents during clashes, and ignoring claims that government had ordered a halt to forced demolitions in the area.

Now, the fatal electrocution has raised urgent questions:
Why were live electric cables left exposed for months?
Who bears responsibility for clearing dangerous infrastructure after demolitions?
And how many more lives must be lost before accountability is enforced?

Community members insist the tragedy was preventable, arguing that basic safety measures—such as disconnecting power lines or fencing off hazardous areas—could have saved lives. The incident highlights a broader pattern of urban displacement, alleged abuse of authority, and neglect of public safety, especially in low-income communities affected by forced evictions.

As families mourn the teenager’s death, residents continue to demand answers from traditional authorities, security agencies, and government officials. The Oworonshoki case has become a stark symbol of how demolition policies, when carried out without planning, oversight, or accountability, can turn vulnerable neighborhoods into deadly zones—raising a chilling question: is urban “development” in Lagos now coming at the cost of human life?

Ebonyi Community Alleges Former Gov. Umahi Orchestrated Demolitions, Land Seizures

Residents of Umuchima community in Ebonyi State accuse former Governor and current Minister of Works, David Umahi, of orchestrating forced demolitions of homes, ancestral compounds, and farmlands since 2015. Alleged demolitions have reportedly caused deaths, psychological trauma, and displacement. Community leaders are calling on both state and federal governments to intervene, investigate, and protect the affected families.


#EbonyiCommunity #LandDemolitions #DavidUmahi

Sowore Moves Freely In Lagos Despite Police ‘Wanted’ Notice

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore appeared publicly in Lagos on Wednesday, attending two major events despite being declared “wanted” by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, on November 3, 2025.

Where he appeared

1. NBA Ikeja Human Rights Day Event

He participated in a panel discussion on safety, security, and mass killings in Nigeria.

The event took place just a few meters from the Lagos State Police Command headquarters.



2. UNILAG – Gani Fawehinmi Integrity Award (HEDA)

Sowore attended and received a warm welcome from students and activists.




Why police declared him wanted

The police linked him to alleged disturbances during protests against the Oworonshoki demolitions, which many groups described as illegal and inhumane.

Legal response

Sowore has filed a ₦500 million fundamental rights lawsuit against:

The Nigeria Police Force

IGP Kayode Egbetokun

CP Moshood Jimoh


He argues:

He was declared wanted without any invitation, warrant, or charges.

His rights to dignity, liberty, and movement were violated.

He has never been contacted legally and would have honoured any lawful invitation.


He is seeking:

Permission for substituted service of court processes

An interim injunction stopping the police from arresting, harassing, or declaring him wanted

A stay on the “wanted person” declaration


Public reaction

#Humanrightsgroupssaythepolicedeclaration

#Unlawful

#Vindictive

#Politicallymotivated

Soyinka Slams ‘Private Battalion’ Escorting Tinubu’s Son, Warns of Dangerous Misuse of Security Forces

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has sparked nationwide debate after criticising the massive security convoy assigned to President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, describing it as large enough to “crush” the recent coup attempt in Benin Republic. Speaking at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, he condemned the concentration of heavily armed operatives around one individual while Nigeria battles widespread insecurity. Soyinka warned that the misallocation of security resources highlights distorted national priorities and threatens public safety. He also criticised Nigeria’s involvement in Benin’s failed coup, warned about the dangers of misinformation, and condemned ongoing demolitions in Lagos. As public scrutiny intensifies, the Presidency has yet to respond.

YRC Mobilises Nigerians for December 10 Protest, Demands Release of #EndBadGovernance Activists

The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) has urged Nigerians nationwide to join the December 10 protest marking World Human Rights Day, organised by the #EndBadGovernance Movement. The group warned that Nigeria is “on the brink” due to worsening repression, rights violations, and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act to target critics under the Tinubu administration.

YRC is demanding the dismissal of treason and terrorism charges against 11 detained protesters arrested in 2024, accusing the government of delaying their trial to silence dissent. The group also highlighted ongoing persecution of activists, workers, students, and journalists, as well as widespread demolitions displacing poor communities. YRC says the protest aims to build a united resistance against anti-poor policies and systemic abuses.

Lagos Activist Shinene Alleges Abduction Plot By Monarch, Police Over Oworonshoki Anti-Demolition Campaign

Lagos activist Ishola Rauf Shina (Shinene) has accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, senior police officials, and local security operatives of plotting to abduct and silence him over his resistance to ongoing demolitions in the community. He claims he is being trailed and threatened for leading a peaceful, lawful campaign defending displaced indigenous residents. Shinene has called on Governor Sanwo-Olu, civil society groups, and international bodies to intervene, warning that any harm to him or other organisers would be an attack on Nigeria’s democratic freedoms.

Adamawa Government Issues 21-Day Demolition Notice on Properties Linked to Ex-Governor Bindo Supporters, Triggers Public Outrage

A major controversy has erupted in Yola after the Adamawa State Government issued a 21-day demolition notice to owners of multi-billion-naira commercial properties allegedly linked to supporters of former Governor Umar Jibrilla Bindo. The notice, released by the Adamawa State Urban and Regional Development Board (ASURB) on November 1, 2025, orders occupants to vacate the buildings without offering compensation or alternative arrangements.

The targeted structures—located along Atiku Abubakar Way, Gimba Road, Forestry axis, and Hospital Road—were originally allocated during Bindo’s administration. Affected shop owners and developers accuse the Fintiri-led government of political persecution, intimidation, and economic sabotage. Many expressed shock, noting that they invested life savings and bank loans into the properties. Traders warn that demolitions would destroy livelihoods and displace employees, fueling tension and accusations of a broader political witch-hunt.
#Adamawa demolition notice #Bindo supporters properties

15-Year-Old Girl Dies Amid Violent Demolitions By Lagos Govt In Oworonshoki

Take It Back Movement Condemns Arson, Arrests In ‘Violent And Unlawful’ Oworonshoki Demolitions, Evictions

Police Declare Sowore Wanted, Order Arrest Over Planned Lagos Protest.

According to Vanguard on Monday, November 3, 2025, the Lagos State Police Command has ordered the arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore. The police accuse him of planning to cause public disorder and block major roads in Lagos.

Police Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh told reporters at the Third Mainland Bridge that Sowore and others are trying to organise protests that could disrupt traffic at key locations like the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park. “Sowore should surrender at the nearest police station or face arrest wherever he is found,” he warned.

The police said 13 people connected to the planned protests have been arrested already, but Sowore has not yet been caught. The Command stressed that blocking roads, especially the Third Mainland Bridge, risks serious traffic jams and endangers commuters. The bridge was never designed to hold stopped vehicles for long.

Security officers have been deployed across major highways with roadblocks to prevent disturbances and protect important infrastructure. The police also said recent demolitions in areas like Oworo-Soki have raised tensions, but the government claims residents have been compensated.

The Command reminded Lagosians that freedom of expression is allowed but must not endanger public safety or cause chaos.

“They Want to Silence Me!” — Sowore Slams Lagos CP Over ‘Wanted’ Declaration, Says Police Ignored His Calls

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has blasted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, for allegedly declaring him wanted over claims of inciting public disorder.

Sowore, who reacted on his social media handle on Monday, described the police action as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence him after officers disrupted a planned gathering in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.

“The Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, has reportedly declared me wanted for ‘disturbance of public peace,’ simply because his men failed to execute an unlawful ‘shoot-on-sight’ order from the IGP,” Sowore stated.


He further revealed that despite several calls to the Commissioner, Jimoh refused to answer, adding that he plans to meet with him soon to clarify the situation.

Earlier, the Lagos Police Command had announced Sowore’s “wanted” status, alleging that he and his associates planned to disrupt major routes in the state, including the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park.

“It is only someone who needs examination that would attempt to block such a vital route used by thousands daily,” CP Jimoh told journalists.


The commissioner confirmed that 13 suspects had already been arrested in connection with the planned demonstration, while Sowore allegedly fled. He assured that police operatives had been deployed across key areas to safeguard public infrastructure.

Jimoh also addressed concerns over recent demolitions in the Oworonshoki area, maintaining that all affected residents were duly compensated and warning against using the situation as a pretext for unrest.

“We will not tolerate anyone attempting to destabilize Lagos. Freedom of expression is guaranteed, but it must not threaten public peace,” he emphasized.

Sowore, however, insists the move was politically motivated, calling it an attempt to distort facts and criminalize dissent.

Protesters march against Lagos govt in Ikeja over demolitions.

Protesters began converging as early as 7:30 a.m. at Ikeja Bridge before proceeding towards Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State Government.Hundreds of protesters are currently marching from Ikeja Bridge to Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State Government, to demonstrate against hunger and the ongoing demolitions in Oworonshoki, which they say have rendered many residents homeless.

The demonstration, which began around 10:00 a.m. on Friday, was led by the Take It Back Movement and several other civil society groups.

Protesters began converging as early as 7:30 a.m. at Ikeja Bridge before proceeding towards Alausa, carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Stop the Demolitions’ and ‘End Hunger Now’.

The groups accused the state government of worsening hardship through what they described as “anti-poor” policies, citing the demolitions in Oworonshoki and other parts of Lagos that have displaced families without alternative housing or adequate notice.

Security operatives, including police officers and personnel of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, have been deployed around the Alausa axis to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

As of the time of filing this report, the protesters had reached the Secretariat area, chanting solidarity songs and demanding to meet with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu or his representatives.

Details later.

Trade Fair Demolitions: Senator Umeh Condemns Lagos Government’s Action, Labels It Illegal.

Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has condemned the recent demolitions at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, describing them as unlawful and beyond the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Umeh said the move by the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning was “a clear breach of the law and an affront to due process.”

“The country is governed by laws and the constitution. I’m disappointed that the Commissioner for Physical Planning in Lagos State came on air to justify an illegal action,” he stated.

According to him, the Trade Fair Complex is a federal property managed by the Federal Government through the Trade Fair Management Board, and therefore not under Lagos State’s control.

“The Trade Fair Complex is a federal establishment where the Lagos State Government moved in with heavy machinery to destroy people’s properties and investments without justification,” Umeh said. “Federal lands are managed by federal agencies, not state governments. Such properties are recorded in the Federal Land Registry in Ikoyi, not in the Lagos Land Registry in Alausa.”

Umeh, who is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, maintained that the state government had no authority to act on federal land. He emphasized that the Trade Fair Management Board has always handled all administrative functions, including development approvals, property rates, and ground rent.

“The Lagos State Government has never performed any of these duties there until about two weeks ago when they moved in to demolish buildings on September 25,” he said.

The senator further described the demolitions as an “intrusion,” stating that neither the board nor traders received prior notice.

Umeh also refuted claims that the demolished buildings were erected on canals or without proper approval, insisting that all structures were duly approved by the Trade Fair Management Board.

We Won’t Live Like Slaves’ — Ilaje Protest Demolition Of Ancestral Homes In Lagos

August 20, 2025 | News

Hundreds of Ilaje residents in Lagos have staged a protest against the demolition of their ancestral homes, accusing some traditional rulers of acting as land grabbers and hiding under the name of President Bola Tinubu to justify the destruction.

Despite heavy rainfall, women and men under the umbrella of Egbe Omo Ilaje marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, demanding urgent intervention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

Threat of Nude Protest:
An elderly protester, Ifagbemi, declared that Ilaje women were ready to stage a nude demonstration at the palaces of implicated monarchs if the demolitions continued.

“We are the original settlers of Lagos. If the government refuses to act, we will strip ourselves and storm the palaces of these monarchs. We want peace and justice,” she said.

Allegations Against Monarchs:
President-General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Rafael Irowainu, accused some monarchs of fraudulently invoking Tinubu’s name to legitimise demolitions.
He insisted the Ilaje people are indigenous settlers of Lagos, while many of the monarchs behind the demolitions originated from Osun and Ekiti states.

Heritage at Risk:
Protesters warned that demolitions without court orders would worsen insecurity, homelessness, and cultural erasure.
Prince Oluwajimusu, Lagos State Chairman of Egbe Omo Ilaje, condemned the move as a deliberate attempt to “wipe out Ilaje heritage.”

“You cannot write the history of Lagos without the Ilaje. We will not continue to live as slaves in our own land. By 2027, we will decide our political future,” he declared.

Many displaced families have called on the Lagos government to compensate affected landlords and residents, stressing that their wives and children are already suffering severe hardship.

Bottom Line: The Ilaje community insists they are founding settlers of Lagos and vow not to surrender their land rights, warning of escalated protests if demolitions continue.

#Lagos #Ilaje #LandDispute