Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has raised concerns over the alleged use of expired teargas canisters by police operatives during last week’s protest against illegal demolitions and forced evictions in the Makoko waterfront area of Lagos.
Falana spoke on Monday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) while visiting protesters injured during the demonstration, which was organised to draw attention to alleged unlawful demolitions in waterfront communities.
The protest, led by activists Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, and Dele Frank, was initially peaceful but reportedly turned violent after police fired teargas at close range, leaving several protesters injured and attracting condemnation from rights groups.
Falana described the police action as unconstitutional and dangerous, saying the injuries sustained were unusual. “In my over 40 years of participating in protests, I have never seen teargas canisters cause such severe injuries,” he said.
At LASUTH, medical officials said one of the injured protesters, Kafayat Muftaudeen, sustained a severe leg injury and would continue treatment through regular wound dressing before undergoing skin graft surgery.
Falana insisted that the 1999 Constitution guarantees citizens the right to peaceful assembly, noting that protest organisers are only required to notify the police, not obtain permits. He said the organisers complied with the law and were peacefully escorted before the incident.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government defended the Makoko demolitions, saying they were carried out to protect lives and prevent potential disasters. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said several structures were located beneath high-tension power lines, posing serious safety risks.
The government assured that displaced residents would be compensated, adding that enumeration was ongoing and that only buildings within high-tension corridors were affected as part of a broader safety programme.
In response to the incident, the Lagos State House of Assembly has invited community leaders from Makoko and adjoining waterfront settlements to a meeting on Tuesday following petitions over the demolitions and alleged rights violations.
Human rights organisations have also demanded investigations into the protest crackdown and related demolitions, calling for accountability, compensation for affected residents and respect for citizens’ constitutional rights
