Residents of Mile 12 Central in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State have staged a protest over the sudden demolition of more than 200 houses, alleging the exercise was carried out without prior notice or consultation. The angry demonstrators marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday to demand government intervention and accountability. 

The demolitions reportedly began on Monday, when officials of the Lagos State task force and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) moved into the community with heavy machinery to pull down structures. Residents said they received no warning or official communication before the operation began. 

Residents Explain Their Anger and Demands

Speaking on behalf of the community, Tunde Ogundele, Chairman of the community’s Council Development Area, described how demolition crews entered Mile 12 Central without notice and began pulling down houses. Ogundele said the residents were taken by surprise and had no time to prepare or move belongings. 

“We heard from a source that they want to destroy the houses to build estates,” Ogundele told reporters. He explained that many homeowners had owned their land for decades and believed they were law‑abiding citizens deserving of notice and consultation before such a major action. 

Older residents expressed deep distress over the demolitions. 72‑year‑old Ganiyu Abdul, who said he had lived in the area for over 40 years, lamented the loss of his sister’s home and the ongoing threat to his own property. “They did not tell us the reason they are demolishing our houses,” Abdul said, speaking with emotion. 

Protesters held placards with inscriptions such as “Say no to illegal demolition in Mile 12 community,” “Sanwo‑Olu, save our community,” and “We are homeless; stop the demolition.” They called on the Lagos State Government to intervene and halt the demolition exercise immediately. 

Beyond the physical destruction of homes, residents told news crews that the demolition had serious human consequences. Some families were rendered homeless overnight, and emergencies arose among vulnerable individuals in the community after the shocks of the destruction. A local woman, Sharon Fagbemi, said that no government agency had taken responsibility since the work began. 

Fagbemi said residents approached the Ministry of Physical Planning, but officials there denied knowledge of the demolitions. She described a lack of clarity over who ordered the exercise, adding that authorities on the ground seemed to respond only to directives without explaining them to affected homeowners. 

Government Lawmakers Promise Action

Addressing the protesters at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Steven Ogundipe, who spoke on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, said the House would demand accountability from the agencies involved. Ogundipe said it was unacceptable for demolitions to proceed without prior notice and that legislators would call on responsible officials to present documentation that justified the action. 

“We always insist that due process must be followed,” Ogundipe said. He added that even if the structures were unauthorised, dialogue and proper notification should precede any demolition, a principle he said the government encourages. 

Forced demolitions have long been a point of tension in Lagos, especially in densely populated communities with legacy land ownership and informal housing patterns. Previous actions in parts of Oworonshoki and other areas in Kosofe Local Government sparked protests and legal disputes, with human rights lawyers and activists questioning the methods and transparency of such exercises. 

State officials have frequently defended demolition exercises as necessary to enforce building codes, remove unsafe structures, and reclaim land for public infrastructure or urban renewal. However, residents often counter that they are not given sufficient time, consultation, or compensation when demolitions occur.