Oworonshoki Demolition Victims Shut Down Third Mainland Bridge in Protest, Confront CP

Tension flared in Lagos today as residents displaced by the ongoing demolition exercise in Oworonshoki blocked the Oworonshoki axis of the Third Mainland Bridge, bringing traffic to a standstill and demanding an immediate halt to the forced evictions.

The protesters, made up of victims of the demolition carried out by the Kosofe Local Government, vowed not to leave the bridge until all demolition equipment, including caterpillars, is withdrawn from the area.

At the demolition site in Oworonshoki on Monday, emotions ran high as the displaced residents openly booed the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Moyosore Ogunlewe, chanting “Ole!” a Yoruba word meaning “thief” in a show of public anger and frustration over the loss of their homes.

During the standoff at the bridge, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Lanre Ishola was confronted by demonstrators, who refused to
back down from their demands.

The residents insisted that all demolition activities must be stopped before they would consider ending the protest.

Take It Back Movement, who were at the scene of the protest, reports that protesters refused to back down and insisted that the demolition must stop.