The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday denied allegations that its officers fired live ammunition at residents protesting the demolition of their homes, saying no gunshots were fired during the demonstration.
Residents from communities including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and Oko Baba had marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday to demand compensation, proper relocation plans and justice over past demolition exercises that they said led to loss of lives.
The protesters carried placards reading, “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders,” as they pressed their demands.
Tensions rose at the Assembly complex in Alausa after demonstrators were denied entry. Media reports said police used teargas to disperse the crowd, affecting several people, including journalists and a nursing mother. One protester sustained a leg injury.
A photograph showing the injured protester being assisted to a hospital circulated widely on social media, triggering claims that police had shot at the demonstrators.
Responding to the reports, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, told Channels Television that no firearm was discharged during the protest.
“No gun was fired. I was there,” Olohundare said. “I was appealing to them to remain peaceful, but they continued to hurl abuses at me. As a police officer, I am trained to work under this kind of pressure, so I did not react.”
He said the police sought to manage the situation peacefully and engaged the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which, despite being in recess, sent five lawmakers to address the protesters.
“Still, it fell on deaf ears because their aim was to enter the House of Assembly and cause mayhem, which we will not allow,” he said.
Olohundare also dismissed claims that the injured protester sustained a bullet wound. He said the matter was reported to the area commander, who examined the injury and concluded it was not caused by a gunshot.
He said the injury may have occurred as people fled when teargas was deployed to disperse the crowd.
“When teargas is fired, people run to leave the scene. It is during that process that some may sustain injuries,” he said. “To our records, nobody reported a gunshot injury to us during the operation after they had been warned that force would be used if they refused to disperse.”
