Chaos swept through Oworonshoki on Tuesday after residents reported that operatives of the Lagos State Task Force set several homes on fire during an ongoing demolition campaign supervised by the Sanwo-Olu administration.
Eyewitnesses told this newsroom that thick smoke rose above the neighbourhood as families abandoned their belongings and ran for safety.
Residents said streets quickly filled with confusion as parents rushed to pull children away from the flames while the fire spread across closely packed structures.
Community members explained that the incident has deepened fear in the area, which has already been on edge due to recurring demolitions and clashes with enforcement agents.
A source in the community said, “The Lagos State Task Force is setting houses ablaze in Oworonshoki.”
READ MORE: Lagos Police Defy Court Order, Kill Baby with Teargas During Oworonshoki Demolition – Resident
The source added, “Residents are reporting chaotic scenes as smoke rises from multiple structures, with families fleeing for safety.”
The source also said, “Community members say this latest incident has intensified tension in the area, coming on the heels of ongoing demolition activities and previous clashes with enforcement personnel.”
The latest outbreak of violence follows earlier reports of renewed demolition activity in the Coker section of Oworonshoki, where residents said the task force resumed pulling down houses without warning.
Eyewitnesses said the demolition team arrived on Sunday morning and began tearing down structures that residents insist were not marked for removal.
One resident said, “Heavy demolition is going on in the Coker axis of Oworoshoki. Even houses that were not marked for demolition are being demolished.”
The sudden operation triggered widespread panic as families rushed to gather their belongings before the bulldozers reached their compounds.
Residents complained that they were not informed before the demolition restarted, leaving many confused and unsure of the government’s intention.
As of the time of filing this report, officials had not issued a statement explaining the escalation of the operation or the burning of properties.
Locals said heavily armed task force operatives, accompanied by men in plain clothes believed to be hired thugs, stormed the area on 23 November.
Bulldozers were stationed at strategic corners of the neighbourhood shortly after daybreak, raising concerns that another round of demolitions was imminent.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the presence of heavy machinery around residential clusters unsettled families still trying to recover from previous government actions.
One resident said, “They are about to commence demolition,” adding, “They want to defy the court order.”
Residents claimed the state government is attempting to dislodge them from the area despite an existing court injunction halting further demolitions until legal disputes over land ownership and relocation demands are resolved.
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