By Akinwale Kasali
The peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, by Lagos residents affected by the alleged demolitions of Makoko Waterfront and Iyana Oworonshoki area of the State has led to the arrest of Comrade Soweto and other leaders of the demonstration.
The protesters were dispersed by personnel of the Rapid Response Squad, Police Command with Tear Gas and Shooting of Live Bullets. That led to several persons sustaining various degrees of injuries in the process of the melee.
It was gathered that the protest was organised by the Coalition Against demolition, Forced Eviction, Land grabbing and displacement in Lagos.
This is in solidarity with victims of demolitions carried out across the state – Makoko, Iyana-Oworoonsoki, Otumara, Owode-Onirin, among others.
The protesters had gathered under the Ikeja Bridge, Awolowo Road, and marched through the highway, unto Alausa Secretariat, chanting solidarity songs, before stopping at Lagos State House of Assembly Complex.
The demonstrators displayed banners with different inscriptions calling on government to save their souls.
Some of the banners read. “Lagos is not for the rich alone: A megacity can not be built on the bones and blood of the poor: End forced eviction.”
It was gathered that as the protesters got to the Complex of the State House of Assembly, personnel of the RRS who were stationed at strategic areas blocked access to the Lagos State House at about 1.30pm. The armed security personnel were complemented by the Lagos State Taskforce.
They shot several cannisters of tear gas to disperse the surging crowd, and began shooting sporadically, allegedly, with live Bullets hitting some of the protesters.
A Police Officer who claimed anonymity stated that the Police had no option than to shoot canisters of tear gas because the protesters were getting violent.
“As a result all the entrance and exit gates into the state secretariat were hurriedly shut to prevent miscreants invasion.
“The protesters were becoming violent, that’s why we shot teargas into the air to restore order and sanity in the area,” the Police Officer stated.
Several protesters were injured during the police crackdown, although organizers have not yet released an official casualty figure.
There were blood stains on the ground around the area, confirming claims of injured persons.
A protester said, “Policemen at the scene of the ongoing protest begun shooting tear gas at us to disperse protesters. Many of us are injured in the process.
“We have been heavily teargassed at the Lagos State House of Assembly and some of us have been arrested including comrade Soweto,” another protester claimed.
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