Abeg, make una hear wetin happen for Lagos o! Dis wahala wey don burst for Ikeja no be small matter. Residents wey sabi say dem dey chop injustice don gather for protest, because of government dey demolish their homes without any plan to relocate dem or give dem beta compensation.
This kasala start for morning as dem carry posters wey show say dem no fit build megacity on the back of the poor. Plenti people from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Oko Baba and many other areas dey shout say, ‘Lagos no be for rich people alone!’ as dem walk go Lagos State House of Assembly.
As dem reach, Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, come tell dem say, ‘No be here you go enter o!’ Dem no gree hear word. Dem dey call for dialogue, say dem no go move until dem fit talk with lawmakers. But instead, na tear gas dem come meet!
As police officers start to fire tear gas, people dey panic. Journalists dey run, one poor videographer collapse because of gas wey enter im nose, while nursing mother dey shield her pikin as dem dey scatter. Na wah o, the police dey fire tear gas on people wey just dey fight for wetin belong to dem!
But wetin police talk? Dem say the protest don block road, and road no fit jam up. Jimoh claim say na to protect people wey dey waka for road dem do am. But activists wey dey there like Ms. Yemi Adamolekun talk say dem no dey block anybody road. Dem dey peaceful, and na just to share snacks dem wan do when police come scatter the thing.
Activists and human rights groups don dey vex, dey call this police action a violation of citizens’ rights. Dem dey shout say instead of to use force, government suppose sit down with the people talk beta. E no make sense say we go dey fight people wey just dey ask for justice.
For social media, na fire don burst! People dey rant, dey call out government for the way dem dey treat citizens like criminals. One person for Facebook talk say, ‘See how government dey treat people wey dey suffer!’ Omo, this kind wahala no fit continue. It dey clear say protests wey no violent suppose get respect!
Police don arrest two people, Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank, say dem cause breach of peace. Dem talk say dem go carry dem go court, but many don dey ask if na crime to protest for your rights. Lagos State House of Assembly come dey deny say dem ignore the protesters, say dem try engage but dem no gree follow dem talk.
As e be, this matter don dey trend everywhere! But the bottom line be say people wey just dey ask for beta life no suppose dey face tear gas. For democracy, we go need make sure say everybody get chance to express their feel, not to use force! Na so the matter be for Lagos! Let’s dey watch how e go turn out o.
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