Lagos demolitions: We won’t stop despite our ordeal, says freed protest leader
The freed leader of a coalition protesting demolitions, forced evictions and displacement in Lagos, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Soweto, has vowed that the group will continue its agitation despite alleged intimidation and hardship. Soweto, who led a protest on Wednesday, was arrested alongside Dele Frank after officers of the Lagos State Police Command dispersed […]
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The freed leader of a coalition protesting demolitions, forced evictions and displacement in Lagos, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Soweto, has vowed that the group will continue its agitation despite alleged intimidation and hardship.
Soweto, who led a protest on Wednesday, was arrested alongside Dele Frank after officers of the Lagos State Police Command dispersed demonstrators with teargas at the entrance of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The action caused panic as protesters fled for safety.
After spending a night in police custody, both men were arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba on Thursday and granted bail. The magistrate, A.I.O. Alaka, admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two responsible sureties per defendant.
They are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit a felony, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, obstruction of traffic, threatening the public and singing abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government.
Speaking after his release, Soweto alleged that he was subjected to police brutality, claiming he was blindfolded and beaten before being taken to the Panti police facility in Yaba.
He insisted that the protest would continue until the demands of affected communities were addressed.
“We are not going to stop despite our ordeals. What is paramount is that the demands of victims in Makoko, Oworonshoki and other affected areas are met. We demand an immediate halt to demolitions and adequate compensation for victims,” he added.
Reacting, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, condemned the arrests, describing them as an example of excessive force by the police. He accused the Lagos State Commissioner of Police of partisanship and pledged that protests would continue.
Similarly, Comrade Ibrahim Oluwatobilola of Voice of the Masses said the incident reflected a shrinking civic space, warning that suppressing peaceful protests undermines democracy.
She called on the authorities to respect citizens’ rights and address the grievances of displaced communities.