HOMES IN RUINS: REFLECTION OF A COMMUNITY RESISTANCE

Oworonshoki, often referred to as "Oworo" sits within the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State and has faced recurring demolitions of property worth billions of Naira. The demolition reportedly faciltated by the Lagos State government and the king of Oworonshoki has displaced over twelve thousands residents as at 2023, and according to the Take It Back Movement, no fewer than 22 lives have reportedly been lost as a direct consequence of the stress, trauma, health crises and police brutality. In recent years, the lagos state government has saddled itself with the responsibility of demolishing houses and other properties along the coastline on behalf of the wealthy. The motive generally is to create a beautiful abode and scenary for the rich at the expense of the poor. Oworonshoki falls into the category of communities coveted by the rich. Against this backdrop, Oworo has witnessed several demolitions since 2023. Due to the fear of people's resistance, the demolitions often happen in the night and the demolitions that happen during the day comes with a hefty police presence, teargas and inhumane persecution of all kinds. The old and the retired have watched their homes they built turned to rubble, and the young have experienced the horrific nature of the Nigerian state at a tender age. From the destruction of hungreds of homes in 2023 to the disputed demolition in 2025, residents of Oworonshoki have continued to challenge the circumstances surrounding the destruction of their properties. The Take It Back Movement, Education Rights Campaign and the Movement for the transformation of Nigeria have been instrumental in organising the residents for protests against the demolition of homes. There has been many protests against the demolition such as the October 17, 2025 protest; January 28, 2026 protest which demanded an end tp demolitions in Oworonshoki, Makoko and Owode Onirin. According to Peoples Gazette, police fired teargas at the protesters, injured some protesters and arrested others including Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto. In our interview with Opeyemi Benjamin Ogunlami, the Public Relations Officer of the Take it Back Movent, Lagos State and a key organiser of the anti-Oworonshoki demolition under the aegis of Oworo Youth Forum, he explained in details the genesis of the issue, the actors and inactors, people's revolt and persecution. "I was involved through the Oworonshoki Youth Forum as an executive of the platform. When the first king died— the first king of Oworonshoki died, his son was the vice chairman of Kosofe local government to Moyosore Ogunlewe. So we went to him, being the youth, we tabled some development plan that we want for the community, we tabled it before him in his house. He saw everything, he said it was good, and he shared his own development plan too. He told us right in the meeting in 2021, I think, he shared his plan that actually when he was in lands under Fashola, they thought he would have demolished Oworo, but he kept it, he didn't want it to happen. If it had happened while he was contesting for election, they would have been mentioning his name. But after, we just noticed that the person who want to be the king. So, he resigned as vice chairman in the local government and became the king a year after becoming the vice chairman. Immediately after 2023 election, they started demolishing houses. I got involved in the community to cover what was happening, just to send to the press. However, they didn't allow people to capture events of what's happening during that demolition, it was just something they were doing in the community and the world did not know. So I went there with two people— one with camera and one with my phone to capture the events before the task force officials came. In the morning, while I was there recording events, the task force came with their bulldozer and the black Maria and they started telling me not to capture, asking who gave me permission. I told them I'm a community journalist, so we started relating, the altercation started and I was arrested at that point, they shot tear gas at the people, people fled. So I was arrested, put in black Maria with a boy and they took me down to task force office in Oshodi. In the task force office in Oshodi, they humiliated the boy, but I didn't allow that to happen to me, anyway. I wrote a statement. Meanwhile, before that time, prior to my going to cover the incidence, I had informed TIB movement in Abuja and Lagos that I may be arrested, which later happened. The news picked it, under the period of three hours, the head of the task force, I think, Jejeloye then called me to his office that I should not go and incite the people of the community and let their men do their job. And I said I'm not inciting anybody, I'm not disturbing them from doing their job, but they cannot also stop us from recording what is being done. And that was just it. And they said they've seen, the man said he has seen everything online happening and Jejeloye said he would give me transport fare to return to the community. They just released me on that day, I returned to the community and that was all that happened in 2023. Moving forward was series of protests including to the House of Assembly which led to the suspension of the demolition. And then, fast forward to 2025, they came again after local council election, and they started the demolition again, until this January, February this year, when they've demolished almost all the area. And there are still some other places here to be demolished, but marked already for demolition in Oworonshoki." In his distinct view about the role of the Lagos state government either actively or passively, and also, the demands of protesters and residents, he opined that; "It is glaring to protesters and the residents of Oworonshoki that the Lagos state government isn't taking over their land. It is an act from the king of the community and some persons in government. That's open to them and they've seen series of advertisements flying across the internet advertising their lands for sale. They've seen investors coming to their community, not in the Lagos state government's name. And then Lagos state government had rewarded, according to the news, 3.1 billion for people whose houses were demolished in Lagos as compensation. They didn't call on Oworo people. So the demands of the people are that they should be restored back to their land and duly compensated, or if they need the land compulsorily, they should relocate them. So, and then a lot of people have died, their families should be compensated as well."