LAGOS — There was a major gridlock on the Third Mainland Bridge yesterday morning after protesting residents of Oworonshoki, in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, blocked the inward lane of the bridge over the demolition of houses in their community by the state government.
The demonstration, which began at dawn, left thousands of commuters stranded for hours and forced motorists to divert to alternative routes into the mainland. Our correspondent, caught in the traffic, reported that the situation caused widespread frustration among road users, including sick persons who required urgent medical attention.
Residents in large numbers accused the government of demolishing their houses without proper notice or compensation, alleging that the exercise had rendered many families homeless. The demolition, which started on Saturday, was carried out by a combined enforcement team targeting what officials described as “illegal structures” along the Lekki and Iyana Oworonshoki coastal lines.
Tensions heightened when the demonstrators confronted Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Jimoh, who personally led detachments of the Mobile Police Force and tactical units to the scene. Protesters vowed not to leave the bridge until demolition equipment were withdrawn from their community.
In a statement, the Police Command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Babasayi Oluseyi, confirmed that normalcy was later restored. According to him, CP Jimoh engaged the protesters in dialogue but ordered the use of “minimal force” after they refused to vacate the bridge.
“In the interest of public safety and to avert further breakdown of law and order, the Commissioner of Police directed the use of minimal force to disperse the crowd. Barricades were dismantled, traffic obstructions cleared, and the free flow of vehicles restored without any loss of life,” the statement said.
The protest, however, reignited debates about housing rights and the government’s handling of demolition exercises in Lagos State.
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