LAGOS POLICE DISPERSE VIOLENT PROTESTERS, ARREST TWO LEADERS OVER AWOLOWO WAY BLOCKADE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday said it dispersed violent protesters who unlawfully blocked Awolowo Way and adjoining roads in Ikeja for over six hours, causing widespread disruption, panic and obstruction of public movement.
According to the police, the protesters converged at the Ikeja Under Bridge and blocked Awolowo Road down to Alausa and the Lagos State House of Assembly, carrying a coffin and allegedly instigating violence and public disturbance. The prolonged blockage reportedly prevented residents from accessing hospitals, hindered travellers heading to the airport, and disrupted economic activities in the area.
The Police Command said its officers exercised restraint despite provocation, stressing that their intervention was aimed at restoring law and order and protecting lives and property.
Reports from the area indicated that some commuters, including sick persons, fainted in their vehicles due to the gridlock, while panic and trauma spread across Ikeja and Alausa as residents scrambled for safety.
On reaching the Lagos State House of Assembly, police operatives prevented the protesters from breaching the Assembly’s gate and surging into the premises. Five members of the House reportedly came out to address the protesters and offered dialogue, assuring them that their grievances would be conveyed to appropriate authorities. The appeal, however, was rejected.
The police alleged that the protest leader, Taiwo Hassan, also known as “Soweto,” ordered the protesters to sit on the highway in front of the Assembly, further blocking traffic and denying road users access. At that point, the police said they had no option but to apply minimum force, including the use of teargas, to disperse the crowd and reopen the road.
The Command stated that no deaths or injuries were recorded during the operation.
Two protest leaders, Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank, were arrested at the scene and are being investigated for conspiracy, conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, threatening violence, incitement, obstruction of traffic and unlawful restraint of road users, contrary to the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Police also recovered a white Toyota Canta vehicle with registration number LND 968 YL, fitted with loudspeakers and generator sets allegedly used to block the highway, as well as a coffin reportedly carried to instil fear and cause public disturbance.
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The Lagos State Police Command reiterated its support for peaceful protest and freedom of expression, noting that such rights must be exercised without infringing on public safety or the rights of other citizens.
Investigations are ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, after which the suspects will be charged to court.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, and dated January 28, 2026.
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