‘Gross Overreach’: IGP Egbetokun Under Fire as Police Teargas Homeless Makoko Protesters

LAGOS — The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, faces mounting pressure to call his men to order after operatives of the Lagos State Command unleashed tear gas on hundreds of displaced residents protesting the demolition of their homes in Makoko.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at the Alausa Secretariat, has drawn sharp condemnation from civil society groups, who accused the police of criminalizing poverty instead of protecting the vulnerable.

While the IGP has recently championed “affordable housing” for his officers, rights groups are now asking why his men are helping to render ordinary citizens homeless.

The Alausa Clash

The chaos erupted when displaced residents from Makoko, Oworonshoki, and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly to demand an end to the ongoing forced evictions.

• The Action: Instead of a dialogue, the protesters were met by a heavy detachment of police led by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.
• The Crackdown: Witnesses report that police fired tear gas canisters directly into the crowd to disperse them. In the ensuing melee, officers arrested prominent activist Hassan Taiwo Soweto and several others, detaining them for “conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”

“Investigate Your Men”

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has formally petitioned IGP Egbetokun, demanding an immediate and transparent investigation into the officers involved.

“This represents a gross overreach of authority,” stated Tola Oresanwo, CACOL’s Director of Administration. “It is reprehensible for law enforcement officers to turn their weapons against peaceful protesters who are simply defending their right to shelter.”

The group warned the IG that allowing such “brutality” to go unchecked would erode public trust and embolden officers to act as enforcers for land grabbers.

Police Defend Tactics

Despite the outrage, the Lagos State Police Command has doubled down on its actions. Speaking to the press, Commissioner Moshood Jimoh insisted that his men used “minimum force” to restore order after the protesters allegedly blocked the Awolowo Way, preventing movement.
“We did not fire live ammunition,” the CP claimed, debunking viral reports of gunshots. “We only used tear gas to disperse an unruly crowd that was becoming violent. As a responsible organization, we cannot allow a breakdown of law and order.”

The Irony of “Welfare”

Critics have pointed out the bitter irony of the police action. Just 24 hours prior, IGP Egbetokun was in Abuja advocating for “decent and affordable housing” to boost the morale of police officers.

“The IG wants houses for his men, but his men are teargassing citizens who just lost their own houses,” noted Festus Ogun, a human rights lawyer. “You cannot build police welfare on the ruins of the people’s misery.”

As of Friday morning, the arrested activists remain in custody, and the displaced residents of Makoko have vowed to return to the streets, setting the stage for a continued standoff between the IGP’s men and the city’s homeless.