A carpenter in Lagos’ waterfront Makoko community says his three-week-old daughter died after his wife fell into a lagoon while fleeing chaos triggered by a government-led demolition last week.
Papa Eve Amossou said the incident occurred during a demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State government, when police attached to a task force fired tear gas to disperse residents.
Speaking Tuesday during a visit to the community, Amossou said his wife was trying to escape with their newborn daughter, Morenikeji, when she slipped and fell into the lagoon.
“The police officers fired tear gas because they said they did not want people to gather in groups,” he said. “My wife tried to move away from the area with my daughter, and she fell into the lagoon with her.”
Amossou said both mother and child were pulled from the water and rushed to a hospital, but the baby was pronounced dead on arrival.
“I was told that my daughter had died before we arrived,” he said, adding that his apprentice also fell into the lagoon but survived. “It was God who saved my apprentice. The incident has left my family devastated.”
The carpenter said the demolition also destroyed his workshop, leaving him without a source of income.
“I am a carpenter, and I have lived here all my life,” he said. “My workshop was demolished, and I have no job at the moment.”
Community leaders in Makoko alleged that at least five residents died during and after the demolition exercise. They said two children and three adults were among those who reportedly lost their lives, though the claims could not be independently verified.
