Police fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse protesters demanding compensation following mass evictions by the Lagos State government.
Protesters, made up of displaced residents mostly from slums, gathered near a road in Lagos to denounce authorities who demolished their homes without notice, without compensation or a rehousing plan.
Chanting slogans and holding signs, they called on the state government to take responsibility for families left homeless by the demolitions. Some said the evictions destroyed everything they had.
Akintimeyin Iyadily, a displaced resident, says she and her husband lost everything.
"My house was demolished in the community of Otumara. My church was demolished because my husband was the pastor, everything was demolished with all our possessions. We have nothing left, Iyadily said.
Police intervened after the crowd blocked part of the road, firing tear gas canisters which caused protesters to flee, seeking safety.
Lagos State authorities said the demolitions are part of efforts to enforce planning laws, reduce environmental risks and prevent flooding in high-risk areas.
Officials insist the structures involved were illegal and posed security concerns.
Lagos, Nigeria's economic center, faces intense pressure from its rapidly growing population, with millions living in precarious neighborhoods vulnerable to floods and other disasters.
