ANTI-DEMOLITION PROTEST LEADER SOWETO BEGINS PHYSIOTHERAPY AFTER ALLEGED ASSAULT, POLICE YET TO RESPOND
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
One of the leaders of the recent anti-demolition protest in Lagos, Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, has expressed optimism about his recovery as he begins physiotherapy following injuries he said he sustained during the January 28 demonstration.
Soweto was arrested alongside fellow protester, Dele Frank, after a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly over demolitions in Makoko and other parts of the state. The duo was arraigned before the Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on January 29, 2026, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, threats, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and allegedly singing abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government.
The court granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties and adjourned the case until March 3, 2026, for mention.
Several persons, including journalists and a nursing mother, were reportedly affected when police fired tear gas to disperse protesters, while at least one demonstrator sustained a leg injury.
In a statement shared on Thursday, Soweto alleged that he was assaulted by officers during the protest, leading to what he described as a deterioration in his health. He disclosed that a recent MRI scan revealed the extent of injuries allegedly suffered during the incident.
“I have commenced physiotherapy to restore my lower spine, which is the most impacted, to full health,” he said, adding that the treatment, which began on February 11, 2026, would last several weeks.
He accused the Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, and other officers of assaulting him and firing tear gas at peaceful protesters, claiming at least two persons were hospitalised at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Lagos State Police Command has yet to respond to the allegations. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the command would confirm the matter and revert.
Despite his condition, Soweto said he was encouraged by what he described as the “incredible results” of the January 28 protest and warned of further demonstrations if the government fails to meet the community’s demands.
Demolitions began in Makoko in late December, with the state government saying the exercise was aimed at safeguarding residents from the dangers posed by high-tension power lines. Authorities maintained that structures erected beyond a 100-metre setback under the power lines were being removed.
However, affected residents alleged that demolitions extended beyond agreed boundaries and were carried out without adequate compensation or alternative housing.
Following the protest and subsequent intervention by the Lagos State House of Assembly, lawmakers ordered a halt to the demolition exercise and initiated an enumeration process for affected residents. The decision came after a stakeholders’ meeting between community representatives and lawmakers, who also visited Makoko earlier this week.
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