CHSR Accuses Lagos Assembly Committee Chair of Distorting Facts, Demands Release of Detained Protesters

The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has condemned what it described as a “misleading and fabricated” statement issued by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, over the recent crackdown on protesters at the Assembly complex.

In a press statement released on Thursday, CHSR rejected claims by the lawmaker that protesters attempted to force their way into the Assembly premises, insisting that the demonstration was peaceful and orderly.

According to the organization, the protest involved victims of ongoing demolitions across parts of Lagos State, including Makoko and its environs, who were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

CHSR stated that eyewitness accounts, media reports, and video recordings contradict the Assembly’s narrative, noting that many of the protesters were elderly men and women displaced by demolitions. The group said civil society leaders, including Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, repeatedly urged protesters to remain calm and disciplined throughout the demonstration.

“At a point, protesters were directed to sit on the floor peacefully while food and water were being distributed,” the statement said, adding that this undermines claims of violence or unruliness.

The organization alleged that despite the peaceful nature of the protest, security operatives deployed teargas against unarmed demonstrators, forcing many to flee for safety. CHSR described the action as “excessive, punitive, and disproportionate,” and inconsistent with democratic standards.

CHSR also dismissed claims by Hon. Ogundipe that lawmakers attempted to engage protesters in “good faith,” arguing that genuine dialogue cannot occur in an atmosphere of intimidation, teargas, and arrests.

The rights group further accused the lawmaker of attempting to criminalise dissent by portraying Soweto as abusive or provocative. It maintained that raising one’s voice against forced evictions, police violence, and government policies does not amount to criminal conduct.

Addressing the arrests made during the protest, CHSR said the Lagos State House of Assembly could not absolve itself of responsibility for events that occurred at the gate of what it described as “the people’s parliament.”

“The constitutional right to peaceful assembly does not go on recess,” the statement noted.

CHSR also alleged institutional complicity between the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, citing reports that lawmakers had recently endorsed ongoing demolitions in Makoko and surrounding communities.

On the relationship between Soweto and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, CHSR claimed that tensions arose from Soweto’s public criticisms of police actions during demolition exercises, including allegations of fatalities caused by gunshots and teargas in several affected communities.

The organization accused the police commissioner of making personal remarks and threatening statements against Soweto, which it said culminated in the use of force against protesters.

CHSR described the conduct of the police leadership during the protest as unprofessional and unbecoming of public office.

Demands

The Centre called for:

The immediate and unconditional release of Hassan Soweto and all other detained protesters, as well as the release of a seized musical truck.

An independent and transparent investigation into the use of force against peaceful protesters.

An immediate halt to forced evictions and demolitions without consultation, humane alternatives, and lawful resettlement.

A public retraction of statements attributed to Hon. Ogundipe Stephen which, according to CHSR, were intended to justify repression and misrepresent events.

In its conclusion, CHSR warned that public office should not be used to mislead the public or justify violence, stressing that history would judge actions taken against peaceful citizens.

“Justice cannot be teargassed. Truth cannot be arrested,” the statement said.