What happened:

• Police attacked and dispersed peaceful protesters protesting the alleged illegal demolition of residential buildings in Oworonshoki.
• Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and former presidential candidate, was present at the protest. He reported that some police officers seemed under orders to kill him.
• Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh had reportedly directed officers to stop Sowore from participating and warned him not to come to Lagos for the protest.

Sequence of events:

1. Sowore arrived at the protest site and attempted to meet the protesters.
2. Police began firing teargas to disperse both Sowore and the demonstrators.
3. Sowore later left, raising concerns about threats to his life, and addressed his followers via Facebook Live, condemning the police and linking the state of insecurity to Nigeria’s broader political challenges.

Protesters’ claims:

• Demonstrators, mostly displaced residents, demanded justice and government intervention after their homes were demolished without prior notice.

Context:

• Sowore had recently been released from Kuje Prison, Abuja, following his arrest during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on October 20, which led to a city shutdown.
• He had promised to attend the Oworonshoki protest despite prior threats from the Lagos Police Commissioner.

Implications:

• The incident highlights ongoing tensions between residents, activists, and authorities over land demolition and human rights in Lagos.
• It also ties into broader critiques about state repression and Nigeria’s image internationally, including attention from foreign observers like former U.S. President Donald Trump.