In a statement issued on Saturday, the group said the demolition began in the early hours of September 6, 2025.
The Oworo Youths Forum (OYF) has strongly condemned the ongoing demolition of houses in Oworoshoki, Lagos State, describing the exercise as a “crime against humanity.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group said the demolition began in the early hours of September 6, 2025.
The statement was signed by OYF Secretary, Opeyemi Ogunlami, and Public Relations Officer, Towolawi Jamiu.
“The Oworo Youths Forum (OYF) is concerned about the distress call we got this morning around 1am, September 6, 2025 about houses being demolished and our people rendered homeless in Oworoshoki, Kosofe Local Government of Lagos State.”
The group alleged that the exercise was part of a larger attack that had been ongoing for more than two years.
“The demolition exercise is a continuation of attack on Oworoshoki that started since July 2023 where over 1,000 homes have been destroyed and over 30,000 people rendered homeless including women and children. We condemn this barbaric act outrightly!.”
According to OYF, the demolition was carried out in the middle of the night, with residents subjected to teargas.
“We know that the ruling APC Government in Lagos is wicked and heartless but never knew they can be inhumane to the point of destroying working people’s homes in the middle of the night while they are sleeping including firing teargas cannisters at those who are trying to take pictures and videos.”
The forum accused the state government of attempting to displace poor residents for the benefit of the wealthy.
“This illegal demolition is part of the large scale plan to grab land from the poor and sell it to the wealthy ruling class.”
It added that plans were underway to convert Oworoshoki into an elite residential estate.
“There is an ongoing plan to turn Oworoshoki to Elite Villa Estate and this is being advertised on Bill boards around Oworoshoki, Victoria Island and Lekki with minimum price of N120,000 per square metre or approximately N60M per plot.”
The group stressed that housing is a fundamental right.
“We need to reiterate that the right to shelter is a fundamental human rights and we will not fold our hands while our people are being exploited and made homeless.”
OYF demanded urgent action from the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“Order the immediate STOP to all demolition exercises in Oworoshoki.Prosecute those behind this crime against humanity.”
“Provide adequate compensation including resettlement for those whose properties have been demolished.Stop the wickedness of making Lagosians suddenly homeless.”
Previously, Bellnews reported that the the Take-It-Back Movement and Oworo Youths Forum (OYF) rejected the purported demolition in more than 10 communities within Oworonshoki in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State by the state government.
The groups condemned what they described as illegal displacement and forced eviction plans targeting over 80,000 residents, including children and vulnerable individuals.
Opeyemi Ogunlami, a youth leader and vocal member of the community, accused the traditional ruler of Oworonshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of orchestrating the demolitions in collaboration with state agencies.
He alleged that in 2023, the monarch conspired with the Lagos State Task Force to demolish homes and set structures ablaze, resulting in fatalities and mass displacement.
According to him, resistance from the local population halted the operation at the time.
Ogunlami further noted that in 2024, a similar attempt was made in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), but it was blocked after intervention from human rights watchdog, the Amnesty International.
“Just weeks after the local government elections in July, new demolition notices were served by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA),” Ogunlami stated.
“They are now citing lack of certificates of completion, but we know the real motive is to dispossess us for the benefit of the wealthy elites.