A 15-year-old girl, Esther Eniefiok, has died following what residents describe as severe trauma triggered by the ongoing demolition of homes in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos State.
The demolition operation, led by the Lagos State Government, resumed early Thursday at the Precious Seed Community. Residents say Esther’s death is the second recorded within 24 hours after an elderly man, popularly called Baba Aro, also died on Wednesday.
A video circulating online shows Esther’s lifeless body covered with a wrapper as neighbours wailed beside her.
Speaking through tears, her brother, Paul Eniefiok, said the teenager had been emotionally unstable since Sunday, November 23, when armed personnel of the Lagos State Task Force, accompanied by police officers and suspected thugs, stormed the community to begin another round of demolitions.
“Her condition worsened when she heard the burning was getting close to our house. She was overwhelmed by fear and trauma,” he said. “This morning, she passed away.”
Residents allege that this latest round of demolitions has been the most violent yet, carried out without prior notice or a resettlement plan. Several families say their homes were razed while they scrambled to retrieve belongings.
Another video from the scene shows bulldozers escorted by armed officers tearing through homes as residents ran in panic.
Some community members accuse state-backed operatives of disregarding human life, violating court orders, and using excessive force during the exercise. They also claim that valuables were stolen and some homes were deliberately set ablaze.
In one instance, the Babsolowo family home was destroyed on Wednesday. Two women — Babsolowo Aramide, who suffers from a chronic ulcer, and Babsolowo Oluwakemi — were later arrested by task force officials. Family members alleged the women were kept inside a Black Maria, denied food, water, and access to relatives before being moved to the Task Force Base at Bokassa, Oshodi.
The officers allegedly threatened to arraign them before a mobile court.
“Our house was burned down yesterday,” a male family member said. “Before we recovered from that, they returned this morning to arrest my daughter and my wife.”
Residents are calling on the Lagos State Government, civil society groups, and the public to intervene, citing escalating trauma, homelessness, and human rights violations.
The Lagos State Government has not yet issued an official response regarding the fatalities or allegations of excessive force.
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