Bulldozers demolished homes in Lagos’s Otumara neighborhood on Friday, rendering hundreds homeless as authorities targeted slums for demolition.
Residents, including Victoria Ajah, were caught unaware by the eviction, receiving only 30 minutes to gather their belongings.
The demolition involved excavators and unidentified men claiming to provide security, who also threatened journalists covering the incident.
Otumara’s demolition follows a series of forced evictions affecting informal settlements and working-class neighborhoods in Lagos State.
Megan Chapman, co-director of Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, alleged powerful families linked to government wanted possession of Otumara.
A 2017 court ruling suspended development, yet authorities forcibly evicted residents without alternative housing arrangements or compensation.
Otumara residents sued Lagos State in 2016 after facing continuous threats of eviction from the disputed land.
The court order prohibited forced evictions and mandated government consultations on relocation plans before taking any eviction actions.
Despite the ruling, Lagos authorities continued demolitions, displacing residents without notice and violating the legal directive.
Chapman condemned the evictions, describing them as unlawful and contradicting the Lagos High Court’s judgment on forced displacement.
Unclear land ownership and alleged corruption have worsened housing insecurity, leaving vulnerable communities powerless against evictions.
Economic instability, skyrocketing rents, and luxury real estate developments have exacerbated Lagos’s growing housing crisis.
Otumara’s strategic location near wealthier districts has made it a prime target for property developers and government authorities.
Residents lived in fear for years, as demolition rumors circulated without official government communication or relocation plans.
“People have nowhere to go. Many were born here, while others migrated seeking better opportunities,” Ajah lamented.
Authorities demolished Oko Baba Sawmill last September, while Makoko’s stilt-house community also faces constant eviction threats.
Lagos State officials have not responded to inquiries regarding Otumara’s demolition and legal concerns surrounding the evictions.
