Makoko Protest: Police deny government involvement in Makoko demolitions

Following a protest by residents of Makoko, Owode-Onirin and Oworonshoki at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on January 29, 2026, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has clarified that the Lagos State Government was not responsible for the demolitions that sparked the demonstration.

According to Jimoh, the state government neither authorised nor carried out the demolition exercise that left several residents displaced.

The protest was triggered by recent demolitions that reportedly rendered many families homeless and led to the destruction of homes, churches, schools and clinics across the affected communities.

Angered by the development, residents marched to the Alausa secretariat demanding an immediate end to forced evictions, fair compensation for victims and assurances against further displacement.

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Addressing public concern, Commissioner Jimoh stated that the demonstration was not organised or sanctioned by the Lagos State Government.

Instead, he alleged that the protest was orchestrated by a suspected land grabber identified as Akeem Abiodun Ariori.

According to the police chief, Ariori allegedly brought in security personnel from outside Lagos State, reportedly from Nasarawa State, and instructed them to use firearms during the protest, an action said to violate police regulations.

“This demolition that you see there was not done by the Lagos State Government. It was done by a land grabber, who we promptly arrested and who has been in our custody for several weeks. His name is Akeem Abiodun Ariori,” Jimoh said.

Commissioner Jimoh revealed that after briefing the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the IGP directed that officers allegedly involved be arrested and transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, for further investigation.

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“He brought in police personnel from outside Lagos State, far away from Nasarawa, in contravention of the directive of the Inspector-General of Police. Five of them have already been arrested and transferred to the Force CID in Abuja for discreet investigation,” he added.

“This demolition you see there was not done by the Lagos state government. It was done by the land grabbers.”

Lagos Police Commissioner, Olohundare Jimoh, says justice will be served for residents of Owode-Onirin, Oworonshoki, and Makoko, and identifies a certain Akeem Abiodun… pic.twitter.com/I7YW1X5SPm

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) January 30, 2026

Jimoh also confirmed that Ariori, who has been in police custody for weeks, will equally be transferred to the FCID Abuja in line with the IGP’s directive.

The police commissioner assured affected residents that justice would be pursued through proper legal channels, stressing that the Lagos State Government should not be blamed for the disruption caused by the protest.

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He reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Police Command to maintaining law and order while ensuring that all individuals found to have instigated or financed the unauthorised demonstration are held accountable under the law.