Activists Condemn Police Crackdown on Lagos Anti-Demolition Protest

More details are emerging from the violent crackdown by the police against protesters calling for an end to demolition of waterfront communities at the Lagos State House of Assembly. At least one person was shot by the police and another sustained injury from a different source, and both were rushed to hospital for treatment. One of the protesters, identified as JUDE OJO, from Otumara community, which was equally demolished by the Lagos State Government, said he would not forget what happened at the protest ground in a hurry. Meanwhile, four out of six people who were also arrested by the police have been released, leaving behind TAIWO HASSAN-SOWETO and DELE FRANK, who were part of the protest leaders. The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, ABIMBOLA ADEBISI, said the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, is investigating the roles played by the protest leaders. ADEBISI said the detainees would be charged to court for conspiracy and obstruction of traffic flow, among other allegations, upon conclusion of the investigation. However, a social activist, OPEYEMI ADAMOLEKUN, who identifies herself as an Active Citizen, faulted the claim by the Lagos State Police, saying that the protesters were neither violent nor constituted traffic obstruction. Speaking in a separate interview on The Discourse segment of The Law FM Morning Show, another social activist involved in the Makoko issue, BETTY ABAH, said the Lagos State Government can do better by ensuring that the residents are properly resettled.