Policemen from Alausa, Ikeja, accompanied by officers from Maroko, on Wednesday invaded and evicted residents of a shanty, opposite the Lekki toll gate where protesters were massacred on October 20, 2020.

Witnesses told the FIJ that at about 8am, some 150 policemen arrived the neighbourhood in over 50 vans to execute the eviction and stand guard while a bulldozer demolished their shanties. They said that they were not given notice.

For three hours, the demolition continued. Many residents did not have time to evacuate their properties. Those who spoke to the FIJ under the condition of anonymity, said that they were already at work when they were called to return home and pack their belongings. But when they got home, their properties had been demolished and set on fire by the police.

Some residents told the FIJ that they were told that the eviction was because they supported #EndSARS protesters and revealed to the press what happened on the night October 20, 2020.

Some said that the operators of the toll gate accused them of stealing from the facility “when we in fact protecting it from outsiders”.

Several residents said that Maroko Division DPO told them to leave by 6pm today or they would be killed and thrown into the lagoon.

“We live here because we don’t have money to rent block house,” residents said.

As they picked the pieces of their lives, many of them lamented that the government and rich people do not want to see poor people on the streets of Lekki.

FIJ’s attempts to speak with Muyiway Adejobi, spokesman of the Police in Lagos, have been unsuccessful so far, as calls and a text message to his phone have not been responded to.