In the aftermath of a midnight demolition carried out by the Lagos State Government, hundreds of residents of the waterfront community along Tolu Alashe Street in Oworonshoki have been left homeless and desperate, resorting to selling their personal belongings for meagre sums to survive.
The demolition, which took place without prior warning, reduced the once-thriving neighborhood to rubble. Broken blocks, twisted roofing sheets, and scattered household items now line the dusty streets where families once lived and traded peacefully. Many of the displaced — predominantly women and children — are now stranded in the open, with no shelter, no compensation, and no clear path forward.
Among the affected is Mrs. Rebecca, a mother of one, who shared her ordeal with reporters. “I came back from the hospital with a spinal injury, and they destroyed everything,” she said, sitting beside a rusted pot and a fan. “I paid ₦360,000 for this two-room apartment. Now I’m selling it all for peanuts. This fan cost ₦35,000; the scrap dealer offered ₦1,000. What choice do I have?”
Another resident, Mrs. Jumai, recounted fleeing her home at 11 p.m. as bulldozers approached. “We ran out half-dressed. My shop, my children’s school — gone. Where do we go?” she lamented.
Local NGOs and community leaders have condemned the demolition, calling for immediate humanitarian assistance and a transparent review of the government’s urban renewal policies. Many have questioned the timing and execution of the operation, which has left vulnerable populations exposed to harsh conditions and emotional trauma.