Anti-demolition protest: Lagos police insist no accidents from teargas taking pictures, regardless of proof (PHOTOS)
The Lagos State Police Command says no protester sustained accidents throughout Wednesday’s anti-demolition protest in Ikeja, regardless of circulating photos and movies suggesting in any other case.
In an announcement on Thursday, Abimbola Adebisi, Lagos police spokesperson, mentioned officers deployed “minimal drive” and confirmed restraint amid “violent conduct” by protesters.
The police spokesperson mentioned the protesters “intentionally created” the scenario that unfolded in Alausa.
“The illegal blockage of the Awolowo Manner right down to the Home of Meeting Street prevented individuals who have medical wants from attending to the hospital,” Adebisi mentioned.
“Individuals who have been to journey in another country, transiting by means of Awolowo Method to the airport, have been additionally prevented from continuing on their journey.”
She mentioned officers acted lawfully to take care of order after protesters obstructed main roads.
“The Police detachment, in guaranteeing legislation and order, exercised restraint within the face of violent confrontation by this group,” Adebisi mentioned.
She recognized Taiwo Hassan, activist nicknamed ‘Soweto’, because the protest chief who allegedly instructed protesters to take a seat on the freeway.
“The arrowhead, one Taiwo Hassan nicknamed ‘Soweto’, ordered the protesters to take a seat on the general public freeway, in entrance of the Lagos State Home of Meeting, stopping all highway customers entry to their locations,” she mentioned.
“At this level, the detachment of the Police had no different possibility than to make use of minimal drive to disperse them with using teargas and subsequently opened the highway for the good thing about the general public, and normalcy was promptly restored.
“No dying or harm to the protesters was recorded due to using minimal drive.”
Recall that the protest started on the Ikeja under-bridge over demolition workouts in Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora.
Demonstrators marched by means of Obafemi Awolowo Street to the Lagos meeting advanced in Alausa with placards calling for justice and an finish to demolitions.
Moshood Jimoh, commissioner of police in Lagos, denied protesters entry to the meeting advanced to “stop hoodlums from hijacking the demonstration”.
Nonetheless, Hassan Soweto informed Jimoh that members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have been allowed entry in the course of the December 17, 2025 protest.
The lawmakers later emerged to handle protesters however withdrew amid boos and renewed calls for for entry.
However the law enforcement officials subsequently dispersed the gang with teargas.
Adebisi mentioned police arrested Soweto and David Frank for “conspiracy and conduct more likely to trigger breach of the peace, threatening violence and instigating dysfunction, and inciting the general public to trigger breakdown of legislation and order”.
She mentioned the suspects can be charged to court docket.
“The Lagos State Police Command needs to set the data straight that each one the actions taken have been performed in accordance with the legislation and in safety of public security and public order,” Adebisi mentioned.
“The appropriate to protest and freedom of expression is without doubt one of the necessities of democracy for the good thing about all Nigerians however must be performed in a peaceable method with out inflicting undue hardship on most people and different harmless Lagosians.”
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