Police Assure Lagos Residents of Safety Amid Planned Third Mainland Bridge Protest

By: Sunday Ameh

The Lagos State Police Command has assured residents of their safety following reports of a planned protest by youths from the Oworonshoki area over recent demolition exercises.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, the police said adequate security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order across the state.

“The command is aware of information circulating regarding a planned disruption on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area,” Adebisi said. “We wish to assure the public that adequate security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order. Our officers are fully deployed to ensure the safety of all road users and prevent any obstruction or breach of peace.”

The police further urged residents to go about their lawful activities without fear, assuring that officers would be on ground to ensure free traffic flow and protect lives and property.

It was gathered that the latest wave of demolitions in Oworonshoki occurred around midnight on Saturday, targeting structures in the Coker and Ojulari areas. This came hours after the state government announced that about 80 affected property owners had been compensated.

Eyewitnesses reported that bulldozers, accompanied by armed security personnel, arrived in the community under the cover of darkness to pull down remaining structures previously spared during earlier phases of the demolition.

The last demolition exercise in the area had sparked protests, with residents blocking parts of the Third Mainland Bridge and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop demolishing our houses,” “Give us back our lands,” and “This is not democracy.”

It took the intervention of police operatives to restore calm and reopen the bridge to traffic. Some residents had accused the police of using tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The police command reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and order across Lagos State while urging citizens to remain calm and law-abiding.