Gboah.com: Police used expired tear gas on protesters during Makoko protest – Falana.

Police used expired tear gas on protesters during Makoko protest – Falana.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has raised serious concerns over the alleged use of expired teargas canisters by police officers during a recent protest against demolitions and forced evictions in the Makoko waterfront area of Lagos.


Falana spoke while visiting injured protesters at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). The protest, organised by activists Hassan Taiwo, also known as Soweto, and Dele Frank, was meant to draw attention to what they described as illegal demolitions and forced evictions in waterfront communities. Although the protest started peacefully, it reportedly turned violent after police fired teargas at close range, leaving several protesters injured.


At the hospital, Falana was briefed on the condition of one injured protester, Mrs Kafayat Muftaudeen, who suffered a serious leg injury. A nurse, Mr Adedeji Hassan, explained that she had been discharged but would continue treatment with weekly hospital visits and later undergo skin graft surgery. Falana described the injuries he saw as alarming and unusual, saying that in his over 40 years of participating in protests, he had never seen teargas cause such severe harm.


He condemned the police action as unconstitutional and dangerous, stressing that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to peaceful assembly. Falana added that protest organisers are only required to notify the police, not seek permission, and noted that officers initially escorted the protesters peacefully before the situation escalated.


Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government defended the demolition exercise in Makoko, saying it was carried out to protect lives and prevent disasters. Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, alongside other government officials, said many structures in Makoko were built directly under high-tension power cables, posing serious danger to residents.


The government explained that the demolitions were part of a long-term safety and redevelopment plan and assured that displaced residents would be compensated. Officials said enumeration of affected residents had begun and emphasised that saving lives was the government’s top priority.


In response to public concerns, the Lagos State House of Assembly invited leaders and stakeholders from Makoko and nearby waterfront communities to a meeting scheduled for February 3, 2026. The invitation followed a petition submitted by affected residents.


Separately, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) condemned the handling of the protest and called for an independent investigation into past killings linked to demolitions in Lagos. The group demanded justice, compensation, and protection of citizens’ rights, stressing that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and that affected residents should not be treated as enemies.

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