'They came while we were alseep': Lagos residents tell of brutal evictions

Three times in the past six months, the waterfront slums of Lagos have been forcibly – and often violently – evicted by the government. Thousands have been displaced and some killed. Here, eight former residents tell their story

The Otodo Gbame and Itedo communities of two of the largest informal fishing settlements in Lagos, with an estimated population of 40,000 people living on the waterside. On 17 March, in the early hours, the Itedo community was forced to flee when government bulldozers arrived to destroy their neighbourhood.

Officials have variously cited environmental concerns as well as security against “militants” as the reason for the demolitions, which have now evicted at least 35,000 people and have continued despite a January court injunction ordering they be halted. Few Nigerians doubt that the appropriated lands, located on choice waterfront property, will be used to build luxury enclaves.

Our only crime is being poor

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