Nigerian police have allegedly executed the demolition of nearly 4,700 peoples’ home in the coastal area of Otodo-Gbame in Lagos state despite court order barring them from doing such.
The police allegedly disobeyed court order in demolishing houses that housed thousands of Lagosians
In a report by Aljazeera,the incident which occurred on Friday, March 17 was perpetuated by the Nigerian security forces who employed the use of gunfire and tear gas to make way for demolitions in defiance of a recent court order.
According to a rights groups, the action of the police was a “violation of human rights.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera by phone, Otodo-Gbame residents said they had no warning their homes were going to be demolished.
“We were so surprised. We didn’t know where they came from,” Paul Kunnu said. “They pulled down everything.”
Another resident, Ahisu Celestine, said he and other community members woke up to the presence of Nigerian authorities and bulldozers on Friday.
“We tried to block the way,” Celestine said.
Nearly 4,700 people in the coastal area of Otodo-Gbame in Lagos state have been rendered home
“They started shooting tear gas,” he added, saying there were dozens of police present.
According to Megan Chapman, co-director of JEI, who wwas a witness to the demolition, police used live bullets to disperse the crowds.
Al Jazeera however reported that Authorities were not available for comment on the incident.
“We don’t have any other place to go,” Celestine told Al Jazeera. “We are a fisherman community and have been here for hundreds of years.”
Also, Chapman, who has been working with the community in mediation efforts with the government, echoed Celestine’s sentiment.
“Residents don’t really have any options. It’s an ancestral community. Many of the people in the settlements are fishermen and fisherwomen. They are among Lagos’ urban poor and there isn’t an alternative for them to move some place else.”
“We have to rebuild. We don’t have anywhere else to go. This is our home,” Kunnu said.
Celestine also called on the international community for help.
“We want international communities to help us, the poor,” he said. “It is a not a crime for poor people to live where rich men are.”
Consequently, in this video, Minster of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi insists that the APC led federal government is working to make Nigeria a better place.
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