Nigeria rights body probes Lagos estate demolition claims

The National Human Rights Commission has launched an investigation into allegations of severe human rights abuses linked to property demolitions in Lagos's Blue Roof Estate. Residents have petitioned the commission, detailing claims of unlawful destruction, intimidation, extortion, and even a fatality during operations that occurred over a month earlier this year. The petition, filed by residents' counsel Akeem Aponmade, outlines a harrowing experience involving more than 200 armed individuals who allegedly acted under the direction of local officials and purported Federal Housing Authority orders.

Aponmade stated that the invaders claimed to be enforcing a court order. However, the Federal Housing Authority later issued a disclaimer, contradicting these claims and raising serious questions about the operation's legitimacy. Residents reported being subjected to harassment and the demolition of their homes and fences, leading to widespread displacement and disruption of livelihoods. The petition also details alleged extortion, with some residents forced to pay substantial sums under duress.

Adding to the concerns, the petition highlights that despite the Nigeria Police Force declaring some suspects wanted following complaints from the FHA, there has been a perceived lack of progress in arresting and prosecuting them. This delay has fueled resident anxieties about the investigative process. The alleged actions are described as clear violations of constitutional rights, including the right to life and property ownership, prompting the NHRC's intervention to address these serious allegations.

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These acts constitute clear violations of constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the right to life, the right to dignity of the human person, the right to acquire and own property anywhere in Nigeria, and the right against compulsory acquisition of property without due process of law.