Police fire tear gas at Lagos residents protesting Makoko demolitions
There was tension in Lagos on Tuesday as police fired tear gas at residents protesting the demolition of homes in the Makoko waterfront community and other parts of the state. Members of the Makoko community, alongside activists and sympathisers, had gathered to condemn ongoing demolitions and forced evictions they say are displacing thousands of people, including women and children. The protesters marched with placards, chanting against what they described as inhumane and unlawful demolitions, and calling on the Lagos State Government to halt the exercise. They accused the authorities of extending demolitions far beyond previously agreed limits along the powerline corridor and of carrying on without proper notice, compensation or resettlement plans. Trouble started when security operatives, including officers of the Rapid Response Squad, moved in to disperse the crowd. Witnesses said the police fired multiple rounds of tear gas, […]