Lagos Police deny shooting during demolition protest, attribute injuries to teargas

The Lagos State Police Command has denied claims that officers fired live ammunition at people protesting the demolition of their homes on Wednesday, insisting that no gunshots were discharged during the demonstration. The police maintained that injuries sustained by some protesters, including one widely circulated on social media, were caused by the use of teargas and the ensuing commotion, not bullets.

Protesters from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, demanding compensation, proper relocation plans, and justice for residents who reportedly died during previous demolition exercises. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders,” the demonstrators sought to highlight what they described as the human cost of Lagos’ urban development.

According to reports, tensions escalated when demonstrators were denied entry into the House of Assembly. Teargas was deployed to disperse the crowd, leaving several people affected, including journalists and a nursing mother. One protester sustained a leg injury, which circulated widely on social media, sparking speculation that the individual had been shot.

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Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, told Channels Television on Thursday that no firearms were discharged. “No gun was fired. I was there. I was appealing to them to remain peaceful, but they continued to hurl abuses at me. As a police officer, I am trained to work under this kind of pressure, so I did not react,” he said.

Olohundare explained that the police had attempted to resolve the situation without confrontation. “We spoke with the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who promptly despite being in recess sent five honourable members to appeal to them. Still, it fell on deaf ears because their aim was to enter the House of Assembly and cause mayhem, which we will not allow,” he added.

He also addressed the widely shared report that one protester sustained bullet wounds, confirming that the area commander inspected the injury and determined it was not caused by a firearm. “The injury could have occurred while protesters were fleeing from teargas,” Olohundare said. He emphasized that the police issued multiple warnings that force would be used if the crowd refused to disperse.

Teargas was the primary method employed to manage the demonstration, the police chief said. “When teargas is fired, people run to leave the scene. It is during that process that some may sustain injuries. To our records, nobody reported a gunshot injury to us during the operation,” he explained.

The protest comes amid ongoing disputes over urban redevelopment projects in Lagos, which have often sparked public outcry over relocation processes, compensation, and the welfare of affected residents. Activists and community leaders continue to press for structured engagement with authorities to prevent future clashes and ensure residents’ rights are protected.