The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday arraigned two prominent activists, Hassan Taiwo, widely known as “Soweto,” and Dele Frank, in connection with a recent protest against forced evictions and demolitions in several low-income communities across the state.
The pair appeared before a magistrate court following their arrest during a demonstration on Wednesday that saw residents from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode Onirin, and other affected areas march to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa. Carrying placards and even a symbolic coffin to highlight what they described as the deadly impact of the demolitions, the protesters demanded an immediate halt to the evictions, proper compensation and resettlement for displaced families, and accountability for alleged unlawful actions by authorities.
Picture from a Facebook post:
Police dispersed the gathering with tear gas, leading to injuries among participants and the detention of Soweto—a leading figure in the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and spokesperson for the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos—alongside Frank and others. Authorities accused the protest leaders of conspiracy, inciting public disorder, threatening violence, instigating unrest, and obstructing traffic, charges they say stemmed from the group's actions, including blocking roads in Ikeja.
The arraignment has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and civil society organizations, who argue that the protest was peaceful and that the arrests represent an attempt to suppress legitimate grievances over forced evictions without due process or adequate resettlement plans. Many residents have lost homes and livelihoods in recent clearance exercises, often justified by government claims of safety concerns around high-tension lines or urban renewal, though critics insist the operations frequently exceed agreed limits and violate court precedents against arbitrary demolitions.
The case has spotlighted ongoing tensions in Lagos over housing rights, land use, and the treatment of vulnerable communities. As proceedings continue, calls are mounting for the unconditional release of the activists and a broader moratorium on such evictions until fair solutions are in place.
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