We Only Fired Teargas – Lagos Police Deny Shooting At Anti-demolition Protesters

The Lagos State Police Command has denied reports that officers opened fire on residents who protested against the demolition of their homes in parts of the state.

Naija News reports that the protest took place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, when residents from communities such as Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa to express anger over the destruction of their houses.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Jimoh Olohundare, spoke on Thursday during a television programme where he said no officer discharged a gun during the protest.

According to him, the police only used tear gas to control the crowd after the situation became tense.

The protest was organized by affected residents who demanded proper relocation plans and compensation following the demolition of their properties.

Some of the protesters also asked for justice over claims that lives were lost during earlier demolition exercises in their communities.

After the protest, a photo showing an injured man being helped to a hospital spread widely on social media.

Many online users claimed the man was shot by the police, while others alleged that some protesters were arrested.

These reports sparked anger from activists, human rights groups and members of the public.

The police commissioner said officers were deployed early to secure the area and protect the protesters from being taken over by criminals.

He explained that intelligence reports showed that some individuals carrying dangerous weapons had mixed with the crowd.

He added that trouble started when unidentified groups joined the protest and began chanting aggressive songs before moving toward the House of Assembly.

This led to the total blockage of Awolowo Way in Ikeja, causing heavy traffic.

According to the police, the road blockage created serious problems for motorists and residents.

Some people were reportedly trapped in traffic for hours, while others with health issues fainted inside their vehicles and had to be taken for medical attention.

Olohundare said the police respect the right of citizens to protest, describing it as part of democracy.

He maintained that the duty of the police is to protect peaceful protests while also ensuring public safety.

He said: “No gun was fired throughout the entire process of the protests yesterday. What we used was the minimum force of using teargas to disperse them. We moved in on time at Ikeja Under Bridge to provide security for them so that hoodlums and miscreants won’t go in.

“We equally received intelligence reports that hoodlums and miscreants, some of them carrying dangerous weapons, were already in their midst. Yesterday, unknown groups surfaced, joined the protesters and started chanting war songs and moved to the House of Assembly, blocking the entire Awolowo Way to the House of Assembly road.

“People were trapped in traffic, people who have medical conditions. We had reports of people who fainted in their cars and they were rushed for medical help.

“Protest is good. We know protest is freedom of expression and part of the essentials of democracy. For every protest that happens in Lagos, we have police to protect it in a peaceful way. So no gun was fired.”