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Makoko demolition: How pregnant woman bled to death

Published

6 months ago

January 25, 2026

The pain of Makoko’s demolitions was laid bare on Thursday as rights groups and community leaders said a pregnant woman bled to death after she was prevented from reaching a hospital during an ongoing demolition exercise in the community.

The incident was listed among several deaths, losses and displacements recorded as the Lagos State Government carried out demolitions across Makoko and other underserved communities in the state.

Meanwhile, rights groups including the Justice and Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), Spaces for Change, the Coalition of Oworonshoki Demolition Victims, CEE-HOPE, CAPPA including victims Makoko Waterfront Community, and community leaders condemned the demolitions, among other stakeholders, in a signed statement themed: “Systemic, Illegal, Cruel and Deceitful Forced Evictions: A Demand for Justice, Accountability and Resettlement for Makoko and Other Affected Communities” condemned the demolitions, describing them as inhumane and unlawful.

Speaking on Thursday at a forum organised by the coalition of affected communities in Lagos, the groups said the demolitions have created avoidable deaths, homelessness and economic ruin.

For Student Coordinator, Makoko Waterfront Community, Israel Idowu, what happened in Makoko was not sudden and could not have happened without the knowledge of the government. He recalled that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in the past spoken publicly about plans to turn Makoko into a tourist destination and had also acknowledged the presence of power lines in the area.

“What happened in Makoko was not an accident. It was not something the government did not know about. The governor himself has spoken about turning Makoko into a tourist centre and has also mentioned the issue of power lines here,” Idowu said.

“We were told clearly that the demolition would stop. After that meeting, the bulldozers still came back. When we asked questions, we were told it was an order from above,” he said.

He described the human cost as devastating. According to him, a pregnant woman was bleeding and needed to be rushed to the hospital to give birth, but movement was restricted because of the demolition, leading to her death.

Idowu said many residents are now sleeping in boats, canoes, churches and open spaces.

“Children are no longer going to school. Fishing has stopped. Small shops that people depend on to feed their families have been destroyed,” he said, adding that ongoing sand filling in the lagoon shows the demolitions go beyond safety concerns and point to future developments that threaten the community’s survival.

Chairman, Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, Comrade Abiodun Ahmed, said demolitions in Owode Onirin wiped out livelihoods built over many years.

“In one day, traders lost their shops, spare parts, vehicles and everything they worked for. Some people lost businesses they have built for decades,” Ahmed said.

He said traders were attacked by security operatives and government officials, with some arrested and vehicles seized.

Secretary, Coalition of Oworonshoki Demolition Victims, Olanrewaju Olusegun, said residents of Oworonshoki faced a similar experience during the 2023 demolitions.

“They came late at night when people were asleep. Bulldozers pulled down houses with people still inside. It was chaos,” Olusegun said.

He said many residents were injured, arrested or detained, while others lost both their homes and their means of survival overnight.

Active citizen, Opeyemi Adamolekun, called for transparency over claims that some community leaders were paid by government officials.

“If the government says they paid some community leaders, they should come out and name them. Keeping it secret is creating mistrust and division in these communities,” Adamolekun said.

Earlier on the group alleged that at least 12 people, including two infants, have died, naming 70-year-old Albertine Ojadikluno and five-day-old Epiphany Kpenassou Adingban among the victims.

The rights groups said what is happening across Makoko, Owode and Oworonshoki amounts to state-created homelessness and land grabbing.

They demanded an immediate halt to demolitions, emergency shelter for displaced families, compensation for homes and businesses lost, accountability for deaths and abuses, and a resettlement plan developed with affected communities.

Source: Vanguard News

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PHOTOS: NESREA Investigates Suspected Chemical Spill On Kaduna-Abuja Expressway

Published

2 hours ago

July 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has launched an investigation into a suspected chemical spill on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway following the appearance of a white, foamy substance believed to have resulted from a road accident involving a heavy-duty truck.

A statement issued by the agency’s Assistant Director (Press), Nwamaka Ejiofor, said a team from the NESREA Kaduna State Field Office, led by the State Coordinator, Mr. Hena Dangari Emmanuel, visited the scene to commence investigations.

During the visit, the team met with the Police Commander for Jere, ACP Sani Zubairu, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Commander for the area, and the community leader as part of efforts to gather information on the incident.

According to the statement, “Preliminary findings indicate that a heavy-duty truck was involved in an accident leading to the spillage of its contents at the location.”

NESREA said investigators also gathered information from relevant officials and residents, while samples of the foamy substance, surrounding soil, and water from a nearby stream were collected for laboratory analysis to determine the nature and possible environmental impact of the spill.

The agency appealed to residents and road users to exercise caution pending the outcome of the investigation.

“Members of the public are strongly advised to avoid contact with the foamy substance, the water, and the surrounding soil until the investigation is concluded, to prevent possible exposure to hazardous materials,” the statement said.

NESREA said the laboratory analysis would help establish the composition of the spilled substance and guide any necessary environmental response, adding that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.

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MURIC Rejects Life Imprisonment For Terrorists, Advocates Capital Punishment

Published

2 hours ago

July 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the life sentence given to the two notorious terrorists jailed last week, insisting that terrorists must receive capital punishment in order to deter others.
‎
‎In a statement issued by the executive director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Wednesday, MURIC averred that it was dangerous to keep terrorists in prison custody because of their deadly networks which they use to organize jailbreaks.
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‎MURIC recalled that wo notorious terrorists were given life sentence on Monday, 20th July, 2026.
Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the sentence after convicting Abubakar Abba, popularly known as Abu Baraa, and Mahmud Usman, also known as Mahmuda for terrorist activities.
‎
However, the group rejected the judgment, saying, “We reject this judgement for being too lenient, too dangerous and too disproportionate.
“These are hardened and merciless criminals who should be eliminated with the speed of light. A good surgeon will not hesitate to amputate a rotten limb from the anatomy.
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‎”We are of the opinion that terrorists who execute their captives, traumatize families as well as whole nations and subject their victims to inhuman treatments deserve capital punishment.
“It is dangerous to keep terrorists in prison custody temporarily or ad infinitum because of their deadly networks which they use to organize jailbreaks.
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‎”They are no longer human beings. It is dangerous to keep them with other inmates if we don’t want them to convert ordinary prisoners into terrorists like them.
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‎”It appears the Nigerian authorities are yet to learn their lessons. The terrorists who staged the kidnap of school children and teachers at Oriire, Oyo State recently had demanded the release of the same two terrorists who were sentenced two days ago as a condition for releasing their innocent victims.
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‎”That should have sent a red alert to the authorities that terrorists are taking advantage of the democratic environment to abuse our values.
Those who rob others of the dividends of democracy do not deserve to enjoy same. Terrorists have no right to claims of fundamental human rights.
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‎”We, therefore demand the death penalty for any terrorist found guilty of active participation in terror attacks.
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‎”In view of several audacious attacks on prison facilities and the tendency of terrorists to plan attacks from prison, we also demand that terrorists sentenced to death must be executed within seven days of the judgement.
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‎”The federal government should put all necessary legal niceties in place to ensure that due process is followed in this regard,” it added.

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PHOTOS: Woman burnt to de@th in the home of a man she met at a club in Uyo

Published

3 hours ago

July 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

An unidentified woman was d!ed early Tuesday morning, July 21, after a fire gutted a residential building along Ikpa Road in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

According to accounts shared online by a social media user, Frank Tochukwu Fidelis, the victim had accompanied a male companion to the residence after the duo met at a local nightclub earlier in the night.

Reports indicate that the fire broke out at approximately 5:30 AM, destroying properties worth millions of Naira. While the male resident managed to escape the burning structure unharmed, the woman was trapped inside and suffered fatal burns.

‘’If you have a friend or relative who went clubbing in Uyo last night and has not returned home, please contact the appropriate authorities or visit the relevant hospital or police station for confirmed information, rather than relying solely on social media posts.” Tochukwu wrote in the caption