Amnesty International Condemns Lagos Government Over Violent Forced Evictions in Oworonshoki

Amnesty International has urged the Lagos State Government to immediately stop the ongoing forced evictions in Oworonshoki, labelling the demolition exercise as “violent and inhumane.”

In a statement released on Sunday, the human rights organisation emphasised that the most recent round of demolitions in Oworonshoki communities occurred with excessive force, leaving hundreds of families displaced and traumatised.

“The government of Lagos State must put an end to the violent forced evictions happening in Oworonshoki communities,” the statement read.

“This demolition is so violent that some homes were torn apart by bulldozers while families were still inside. Security personnel fired tear gas canisters, scattering hundreds of families.”

Amnesty International condemned what it described as an “attack on people living in poverty,” asserting that it is unacceptable to penalise vulnerable citizens for the state’s failures in urban planning.

Sources reported that some cheques were distributed by LASURA in Oworonshoki to landlords affected by the demolitions, with amounts reaching up to N5 million. Landlords received varying compensation based on the type of house, with amounts of N5 million, N4 million, N3 million, or N2 million respectively.