(DDM) – The aftermath of the Lagos State Government’s midnight demolition of waterfront settlements in Tolu Alashe Street, Oworonshoki, has plunged hundreds of residents, especially women and children, into a deep humanitarian crisis.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that days after the operation, several families are still stranded in the open, battling hunger, exposure, and despair as they struggle to survive without shelter or basic relief support.
Many women in the affected community have been forced to sell off their personal belongings, including cooking utensils, clothing, and furniture, for as little as ₦500 to ₦1,000, just to afford a meal or temporary accommodation.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to DDM described the scenes as “heartbreaking,” with children sleeping on bare floors and mothers crying over lost homes and property.
According to residents, the demolition took place around midnight, catching many people unaware and leaving them with no chance to salvage their possessions before bulldozers flattened their homes.
“They came in the middle of the night,” said Mrs. Bose Adebayo, a mother of four. “We thought it was a rumour until the machines started pulling down our houses. Now, we sleep outside with mosquitoes and rain beating us.”
Community leaders told DDM that over 2,000 residents have been displaced, with no alternative shelter provided by the Lagos State Government.
“We are not saying the government should not develop the area,” another resident said, “but they should have at least given us notice or relocation options. Many of us have lived here for over 20 years.”
The Oworonshoki demolition is part of a broader urban renewal policy by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development aimed at clearing illegal waterfront settlements, which authorities claim pose environmental and security threats.
However, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, have condemned the government’s approach, describing it as “inhumane and inconsiderate.”
In a statement obtained by DDM, the group said, “Forced evictions without proper resettlement plans violate international human rights laws. Lagos authorities must immediately provide relief and housing for affected families.”
Social workers and activists who visited the site reported widespread hunger, with some victims going for days without food or water.
“Some women now trade their clothes or children’s toys for small amounts of money just to eat,” said activist Femi Akinola. “It’s a humanitarian disaster that demands urgent government intervention.”
Efforts by DDM to reach the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
Observers say the crisis in Oworonshoki mirrors similar demolitions in places like Makoko, Badia East, and Ilubirin, where urban renewal efforts have displaced thousands without compensation or relocation.
As the situation worsens, many fear a looming public health crisis as displaced families now live in overcrowded conditions with little access to clean water, sanitation, or medical care.
Residents are calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene, provide relief materials, and halt further demolitions until proper resettlement arrangements are made.
For now, the women of Oworonshoki continue to cling to hope amid tears and hunger, their voices echoing a familiar cry in Lagos’ endless struggle between development and humanity.