Lagos State demolition operations have resulted in the deaths of a 15-year-old girl, Esther Eniefiok, and an elderly man, popularly known as Baba Aro, amid ongoing forced evictions in the Oworonshoki community.
Residents told SaharaReporters that Esther’s death was caused by extreme trauma stemming from the violent demolition and burning of homes in the area. The operation, carried out by the Lagos State Government, resumed early Thursday in the Precious Seed Community.
Speaking through tears, Esther’s brother, Paul Eniefiok, said the teenager had been mentally and emotionally destabilized since Sunday, November 23, 2025, when armed Lagos State Task Force personnel, accompanied by police officers and suspected thugs, began demolishing structures in the community.
“Her condition worsened drastically when she learned that the destruction had reached near our family home. Overcome by fear and trauma, she sadly passed away this morning,” he said.
Residents described the demolition as the most violent in recent memory, accusing state-backed operatives of acting without prior notice or resettlement plans. Video footage obtained by SaharaReporters shows bulldozers accompanied by armed escorts destroying homes while residents scrambled to salvage belongings.
“The operation was pure terror,” one resident said, alleging total disregard for human life and court orders.
The demolitions in Oworonshoki have long been controversial, with locals accusing authorities of forceful evictions, intimidation, and deliberate burning of homes. Family members reported that operatives targeted the Babsolowo family home on Wednesday, destroying the property and arresting two female residents, Babsolowo Aramide, an ulcer patient, and Babsolowo Oluwakemi, a housewife.
A family source said the women were held in a Black Maria for several hours before being transferred to the Lagos Task Force Base at Bokassa, Oshodi, and were reportedly threatened with immediate arraignment before a mobile court.
“The Lagos State Task Force unleashed a forceful eviction on the community,” a family member said. “They broke into homes with thugs, stole valuables, and set houses ablaze. Our grandmother was still inside when they started burning the house. People had to rush in to rescue her.”
The family called for the timely and unconditional release of the detained women, citing denial of food, water, and contact with relatives. They also appealed to the Lagos State Government and the public for urgent assistance, stressing that the demolition left residents displaced, traumatized, and vulnerable.
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