The Take It Back Movement (TIB) has accused operatives of the Lagos State Police Task Force of brutalizing residents during the ongoing illegal demolition exercises in Oworonshoki, Lagos State.
The TIB group described the attacks as a violation of fundamental human rights.
In a statement made available to A2zgist by Barrister Bolaji Oluwatosin, Head of TIB Legal Aid Department, the organization announced that it had secured the freedom of two residents, Mr. George Solomon and Mr. Olaniyi Olayemi, who were allegedly assaulted and detained during the demolition exercise.
The statement, titled “TIB SECURES FREEDOM FOR VICTIMS OF OWORONSHOKI DEMOLITIONS; POLICE TASK FORCE ACCUSED OF BRUTALITY”, reads in part:
“The Take It Back Movement (TIB) through the legal aid department have just secured the release of Mr. George Solomon, the man whose head was reportedly broken and torn until blood gushed out; and Mr. Olaniyi Olayemi, both victims of the ongoing demolitions in Oworonshoki, Lagos State.”
According to eyewitnesses and counsel on the scene, the men were arrested during the demolition exercise and “were subsequently brutalized by operatives of the Police Task Force.”
The statement continued: “Mr. George was seen with a grievous wound to the head that required immediate attention.”
Condemning the attack, Barrister Oluwatosin vowed that the movement would take legal action against the Lagos State government and the police operatives involved.
“This inhuman abuse and blatant breach of the fundamental rights of these victims will be taken against the Lagos State government and their police dogs,” he declared.
The counsel representing the released men also criticized the assault as an attack on Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees, stressing that “silence is not an option and that remedies at law will follow.”
They noted that the victims’ rights to dignity, personal liberty, and protection from inhuman and degrading treatment, as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution, had been grossly violated by the actions of the police task force.
Residents of Oworonshoki, Lagos State, have been living in fear since the Lagos State Task Force, accompanied by bulldozers, resumed demolition activities in the Precious Seed Community.
The development on Saturday morning comes despite assurances from the Commissioner of Police and the Oba of Oworonshoki that no further demolitions would take place.
A2zgist learnt that the demolition exercise, which began Saturday morning, sparked outrage and anxiety among residents, who were still reeling from the aftermath of the previous demolition that left over 1000 homes destroyed and thousands displaced.
A resident of the community who shared video clips, said “bulldozer together with the Lagos State Task Force stationed at Precious Seed Community in Oworoshoki now to continue ongoing demolition.
“Task Force has just led a caterpillar that wants to begin another demolition again at Oworo this morning after both the Commissioner of Police and the Oba promised that nothing of such would happen again when the 3rd mainland bridge was shut down,” the resident lamented.
