A resident of Oworonshoki in Lagos, Kamorudeen Badewa, has accused the police of defying a court order and firing teargas canisters that killed a baby during the recent demolition of homes in the community.
Badewa told Channels TV that the Lagos State government carried out the demolition despite a subsisting injunction stopping any action on the disputed land.
He said more than 70 houses were destroyed in the operation, which left hundreds of families displaced and in shock.
According to him, initial notices had been served in March, prompting residents to approach the authorities to regularise their property documents.
Credit: X
“The Commissioner of Waterfront has no knowledge of it. Kabiyesi Oloworo was invited and he said he has no idea of the demolition,” he said.
“It was one Oki, the head of lands, who said all the houses there have no approval.”
Badewa said the claim was false and that documents later showed the traditional ruler, Kabiyesi Oloworo, had approved the exercise.
He explained that residents were advised to meet with the monarch to “appease” him after submitting their building papers to government officials.
“We took the papers to Ogudu, to Sheyi who led the team. He said it was from their headquarters… Oki advised us to go and meet our Kabiyesi and appease him,” he added.
The residents, he said, raised ₦10,000 each and purchased items worth ₦400,000, which they presented to the monarch and his wife.
“He received it with his wife and they thanked us. He advised that we should go and perfect the papers of our buildings,” Badewa said.
Three months later, a second demolition notice arrived, followed by the destruction of houses and shops.
Badewa recounted that he was asleep around 11 p.m. when his son woke him up, alerting him that policemen had surrounded their home.
READ MORE: Court Bars Lagos State Govt, Federal Housing Authority from Further Demolitions
He said the officers ordered him to leave immediately and refused to allow him to collect his belongings before bulldozers moved in.
“I was outside when they were demolishing everywhere, when they demolished my house,” he said, adding that his wife and grandchildren had already fled due to the worsening conditions.
He said residents had earlier believed the demolition would stop after the court issued an injunction halting the exercise.
“The court order was served on the Lagos State government,” Badewa stressed.
He described the incident as devastating and said the community has been thrown into confusion and despair.
“This last demolition we recorded death oh! A baby died instantly when the police fired teargas canisters and it landed in front of the baby, he inhaled it and died,” he said.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who accuse the Lagos State government and police of ignoring judicial authority and inflicting unnecessary suffering on innocent citizens.
Rights activists and community members have since called for an independent investigation into the demolition and the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death.
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