LAGOS POLICE MUST RETURN ALL PROPERTY SEIZED FROM ANTI-DEMOLITION PROTESTERS

CONTINUED SEIZURE OF ANTI-DEMOLITION PROTESTERS’ BELONGINGS AND RENTED MUSICAL GADGETS BY THE POLICE IS WICKED, DRACONIAN, CRIMINAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC.

CDWR DEMANDS THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL SEIZED ITEMS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND DROPPING OF ALL TRUMPED-UP CHARGES.

Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) condemns the continued seizure of personal belongings of anti-demolition protesters and DJ’s sound system and gadgets by the Police Force since January 28, 2026 when the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh and his policemen brutally attacked peaceful protesters and injured some of them.

The seized items include the hired truck, 2 generators, 3 big sound speakers and other sound system gadgets, a table, First Aid Box, laptop computer and other personal items. All items were in the truck while the protest was going on until the police forcefully seized the truck and these items. The truck was grudgingly released on Tuesday February 10, 2026 by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, after 13 days in police custody. As a consequence, the owner of the truck and the driver suffered loss of income for 13 days with dire economic implication for them and their families.

Having released the truck, it is not rational for other seized items to still be kept at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Lagos. Today (February 14, 2026) is the 17th day of seizure and livelihoods of the DJ and owner of the generators have been unjustly placed on hold, causing untold hardship for them and their families. Besides, while the attack lasted, some protesters lost personal belongings like smart phones. CP Moshood Jimoh, who is paid from public funds, continues to receive his salaries and allowances but has denied the truck owner, driver, DJ, and generator owner of their sources of income running into weeks and still counting.  Hence, it is heartless for CP Moshood Jimoh to continue to make peaceful protesters and the hired DJ suffer even after his unjustified violent conducts.

The protesters did not commit any crime under the law; their only crime was protesting the unjust demolition of their houses, rendering many homeless and hopeless; though, CP Moshood claims the truck was used to block the highway, which is a big lie, the protesters did not pass the highway let alone blocking it. The victims, who are residents of Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworoshoki, Otumara etc, have a legitimate right to housing. It is criminal for the Lagos State Government being led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Nigeria Police to forcefully displace these innocent people just to meet the land-grabbing greed of a few. Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the freedom of expression and it is Moshood Jimoh and the Nigerian police that are recklessly violating the fundamental human rights of the cheated and displaced Nigerians who were publicly expressing their rejection and opposition to the unjust demolitions.

CDWR hereby demand that CP Moshood Jimoh and the Nigerian Police should immediately release of all seized items including the sound system, laptop, First Aid Box, generators, table and other personal belongings. We also demand the dropping of all trumped-up charges and put an end to the ongoing trial of Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Dele Frank. We shall continue to demand justice for the victims of demolitions until adequate compensation is paid to the victims.

We appeal to Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), pro-labour organisations and civil society organisations to lend their voices to the demand for an end to police brutality, immediate release of all anti-demolition protesters property, dropping of all trumped-up charges against Soweto and Dele Frank, and end to unjust demolitions and adequate compensation for the victims.

Rufus Olusesan

National Chairperson

Chinedu Bosah

National Publicity Secretary

E-mail: [email protected]