Lagos: Surulere residents allege police-backed thugs in controversial demolition of homes

Homeowners and residents of Surulere Community, Amikanle, in the Alimosho Local Council Area of Lagos State, have raised serious concerns over the demolition of their properties, claiming that land grabbers, locally referred to as Omo Onile, carried out the destruction with the apparent support of law enforcement officials.

According to residents, dozens of residential buildings, shops, and fences, totaling no fewer than 70 structures, were demolished as part of an enforcement operation linked to Suit No: ID/732M/2010 between the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, and Nurudeen Adewale & Bros (Nig) Ltd.

Some landlords reportedly faced demands of N55 million, while others were asked to pay N30 million or N15 million.

Eyewitnesses recounted that approximately 300 men stormed the community, claiming to act under court documents from the FHA authorizing them to collect payments for house renewal.

Residents alleged that any landlord who failed to comply with the payment instructions faced demolition of their property.

Chairman of the Surulere Estate Community Development Area, CDA, Mr Semiu Oladejo, told reporters that the demolition was carried out under the supervision of officers from Zone 2 of the Lagos State Police Command and the Lagos State Taskforce.

“They came with around 300 hoodlums. The Nigeria Police should not give protection to thugs and land grabbers. Officers from Zone 2 and the Taskforce watched our properties being destroyed,” Oladejo said.

Affected residents corroborated these claims, describing ongoing harassment. Oluwafewa, a child of one of the landlords, said that security operatives accompanied the thugs for two weeks, leaving residents in distress.

“The thugs asked landlords to obtain a form costing N100,000, demanded an initial N5 million, and told them to pay the balance within two weeks. Prices varied for different houses; my parents were asked for N15 million,” he explained.

Another resident recounted similar incidents dating back years.

“My uncle lost his property 10 years ago after failing to meet similar demands. These practices have persisted for years, and there seems to be no resolution in sight,” he said.

In response, the spokesperson for Zone 2 Police Command, Mr Afolayan Gbenga, stated that officers were only present to execute a court order.

“It is not possible that officers went with thugs; we don’t use thugs,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, the Zonal Manager for the Southwest, Federal Housing Authority, Mrs Rekiya Sani, clarified in a letter to Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, that the demolition carried out on January 27, 2026, at the FHA Estate, Abesan 6, Surulere, Alagbado, was conducted without the knowledge or approval of the FHA management.

She emphasized, “Though the judgment was obtained in favour of the Authority, the execution and continuous demolition supervised by the Lagos State Task Force was done without the Authority’s approval. We request that Task Force personnel stationed at the FHA Estate be withdrawn immediately.”

Lagos: Surulere residents allege police-backed thugs in controversial demolition of homes