Residents and homeowners in Surulere Community, Amikanle, within Alimosho Local Council Area of Lagos, have raised alarm over the demolition of their properties, accusing suspected land grabbers of acting with police backing.

According to the residents, no fewer than 70 structures, including residential buildings, shops and perimeter fences, were pulled down during an enforcement exercise linked to Suit No: ID/732M/2010 between the Federal Housing Authority and Nurudeen Adewale & Bros (Nig) Ltd.

Some landlords claimed they were asked to pay as much as N55 million, while others were reportedly given demands of N30 million or N15 million.

Eyewitnesses said about 300 men stormed the community, presenting documents said to be from the housing authority authorising them to collect payments for property renewal. Residents alleged that those who failed to meet the payment demands saw their homes demolished.

Chairman of the Surulere Estate Community Development Area, Semiu Oladejo, accused officers from Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Taskforce of supervising the exercise.

“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,” he said.

Other residents described continued harassment. One affected resident, identified as Oluwafewa, said security operatives accompanied the alleged thugs for about two weeks.

He claimed the group demanded that landlords purchase a N100,000 form, pay an initial N5 million, and clear the balance within two weeks, with different payment amounts assigned to different houses.

Another resident said similar incidents had occurred in the past, alleging that a relative lost his property a decade ago after failing to meet such demands.

Responding to the allegations, Zone 2 Police spokesperson, Afolayan Gbenga, denied that officers worked with thugs, stating that police presence was only to enforce a court order.

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

Meanwhile, the Southwest Zonal Manager of the Federal Housing Authority, Rekiya Sani, wrote to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, stating that the demolition carried out on January 27, 2026, at the FHA Estate in Abesan, Surulere, was done without the authority’s approval.

She noted that although the judgment was in favour of the agency, the execution supervised by the Lagos State Task Force was carried out without its knowledge and requested the immediate withdrawal of task force personnel from the estate.

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Residents of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Area in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, staged a peaceful protest against the proposed construction of a cemetery in their neighborhood.

The large plot of land earmarked for the project sits along Babs Animashaun Street, bordered by homes, a school, and a church. Holding placards and chanting “No to the cemetery,” the protesters said the development would endanger public health and degrade their environment.

Chairperson of the community, Alhaja Omolabake Braimoh, said residents had earlier resisted similar plans two years ago. “This is a residential area with schools, churches, and families. We depend on borehole water, and the cemetery will contaminate our land and water,” she said.

Braimoh alleged that a government stakeholder meeting held at Eko Club was done without genuine community representation. “They claimed 60% of us agreed to the project, but those who attended were not from our area,” she stated, adding that letters had been sent to the Coker-Aguda LCDA and more would go to relevant state agencies.

Former CDA chairman Olarenwaju Olaniyan also condemned the plan, urging the state to approve projects that promote growth instead of harm. “We’ve lived here for over 50 years. This project will pollute our boreholes and destroy lives. The governor should intervene,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, said during a recent stakeholders’ meeting that the proposed cemetery was designed to address the shortage of burial spaces in Surulere. He explained that the site met planning standards, with features such as CCTV surveillance, street lighting, drainage, and a 20-metre setback from nearby buildings.

Olumide emphasised that inclusive dialogue was key to resolving such disputes, noting that Lagos’ limited land space required “creativity and collaboration” in urban planning.

The protest highlights the broader challenge of balancing community welfare with Lagos’ growing demand for essential public infrastructure.

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