Tension gripped the New Mandela Plaza inside the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on Thursday as bulldozers, backed by a heavy security presence, rolled in to demolish more than 19 buildings in a massive government-led operation.
Eyewitnesses said operatives of the Lagos State Task Force, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and other tactical teams stormed the plaza in a convoy of trucks, restricting access and dispersing traders who tried to record the exercise.
By the time reporters arrived, several buildings had already been reduced to rubble, leaving distraught shop owners and traders in shock. Many claimed they were not served any prior notice before the demolition began.
One trader said: “We don’t even know the reason for the demolition. That’s why you see people moving up and down, asking questions.” Another speculated that the buildings were targeted for being too close to a canal.
A plaza owner, who arrived while his property was being demolished, shouted in frustration that the government never issued a formal notice. Some traders also lamented that valuable goods worth millions of naira, still locked inside shops, were destroyed in the process.
Traders estimated that each of the affected buildings was valued at over ₦150 million, with total losses running into billions. “If government doesn’t want companies or development here, they should just come out and say it. People have invested their life savings here,” a visibly angry trader said.
When contacted, the chairman of the Lagos Task Force denied initiating the demolition, saying the agency was only asked to provide security. “Sometimes, security agencies in the state seek the backup of the Task Force to secure the environment. That does not mean they initiated the process,” he explained.
As of press time, there was no official statement from the Lagos State Government, but security operatives remained stationed at the plaza to prevent unrest.