LAGOS, Nigeria. — Residents of Makoko, a century-old waterfront community in Lagos, Nigeria, are protesting a months-long demolition they fear will displace thousands of families and clear the way for developers.
Authorities say the makeshift homes in Makoko are unsafe and must be removed for sanitation and security reasons. But residents say the sudden construction and demolitions began without notice and have already turned deadly.
Scenes of chaos have become increasingly common in the fishing community, with residents screaming and fleeing as fires break out amid heavy construction. Charred planks floating in the water mark where homes once stood.
“There’s been, I believe, five confirmed deaths -- three children and two adults,” said Cameron, a witness who spoke exclusively to Local 10 News and asked that his identity be withheld for fear of retaliation.
“They’ve been shooting tear gas into homes, and there are infants inside. Tear gas for babies that are three months old is lethal.”
Cameron provided video showing a construction excavator tearing down a home as residents watched from boats.
Excavators have become a regular sight in Makoko. Taiwo, the son of the community’s chief and one of its leaders, said he helped organize protests this week demanding answers from the government.
“We told them, look at what is happening to us. Why are you people killing us?” Taiwo said.
Protesters traveled to the governor’s residence, but Taiwo said they were told the governor was unavailable. “We want him to talk to us as Nigerians,” he said.
Lagos government officials have not confirmed or acknowledged residents’ claims that construction activity has killed people. They haven’t addressed online plans for a megacity development that would replace Makoko, posted on the website of a Lagos-based development company.
The government says the demolition is necessary in part to protect residents from a high-voltage power line running through the area. But residents say the rules keep changing. Last year, they were told homes could not be within 100 feet of the power line. Days later, that distance was increased to 300 feet.
Nonprofit groups say demolitions have extended far beyond those limits, in some cases as much as 1,600 feet.
“It seems this is less about power lines and much more about, you know, urban development,” Cameron said.
Many residents say fear has shut down daily life.
The United Nations Youth Association is calling on the Lagos government to provide temporary schools and mobile health clinics for residents displaced by the demolitions.
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