Police officers deployed to the Lagos State House of Assembly fired teargas at residents who had converged on the complex to protest ongoing demolitions in several waterfront and low-income communities across the state.

The demonstrators, made up of men, women and youths, arrived at the Assembly in the morning, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards demanding an immediate halt to the demolition of homes in Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora. Many accused the state government of rendering thousands homeless without meaningful consultation, compensation or alternative housing.

Witnesses said the protest was largely peaceful at the outset, with organisers attempting to engage lawmakers and present a petition. Protesters called on the Assembly to investigate the demolitions, insisting that residents had received little or no formal notice before bulldozers moved in. Some carried photographs of flattened houses and personal belongings scattered in the rubble.

Tension reportedly rose when security operatives formed a cordon at the entrance to the Assembly complex, preventing the crowd from moving closer to the main gate. Video from the scene shows officers in riot gear confronting protesters, followed by the sound and smoke of teargas canisters being discharged.

Pandemonium broke out as the gas spread through the crowd. Protesters were seen scrambling for safety, covering their faces with pieces of cloth and pouring water over their eyes. Several people, including elderly residents and young women, appeared to struggle to breathe and had to be assisted away from the area.

Some protesters said they sustained minor injuries while trying to escape the teargas, tripping over gutters and roadside obstacles in the confusion. Others alleged that the use of force was unprovoked and amounted to an attempt to silence legitimate grievances over forced evictions.

Human rights advocates have long criticised demolitions in Lagos informal settlements, arguing that they frequently violate due process and international standards on evictions. They contend that residents are often left without shelter, livelihoods or access to basic services, deepening urban poverty.

At the Assembly complex, protesters vowed to continue pressing their demands for accountability, legal redress and humane resettlement options. They called on the state government to suspend further demolitions and open dialogue with affected communities rather than meeting civil demonstrations with teargas and intimidation.