The Lagos State Taskforce has dismissed a viral video circulating online that allegedly depicts incidents of police brutality, harassment, and assault of residents during the demolition of illegal structures and makeshift buildings in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.

In a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the Taskforce described the claims as misleading and false, stating that the footage was a deliberate attempt to distort facts and misinform the public.

According to the statement, the violence erupted when illegal occupants and squatters, alongside their suspected criminal collaborators, mobilised street urchins and area boys to attack government officials and Taskforce officers.

The assailants reportedly used stones, bottles, sand mixed with petroleum products, and other dangerous weapons in an attempt to obstruct a lawful demolition exercise being carried out by the Lagos State Planning and Urban Renewal Agency.

The agency noted that several quit notices had been duly issued to the illegal occupants before the demolition, but resistance ensued when officials arrived to enforce the order.

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, condemned the false narrative circulating online, emphasizing that the viral footage clearly showed illegal occupants throwing bottles and other objects at armed police officers deployed to maintain order.

“Obstructing or attacking government officials performing lawful duties is a serious offence under the law,” Akerele stated, adding that the Taskforce will continue to enforce state directives with professionalism, ensure compliance, and protect lives and property during its operations.

The Taskforce Chairman also appealed to youths to shun acts of violence and avoid being used by unscrupulous individuals to cause disorder. He urged them to act responsibly and serve as positive representatives of their communities.

The agency further advised that any member of the public with credible evidence of misconduct by its officers should come forward, assuring that appropriate disciplinary action will be taken where wrongdoing is established.

Reiterating its commitment to maintaining public order, the Lagos State Taskforce urged residents to disregard false narratives intended to incite unnecessary tension.

“The Agency remains resolute in its mandate to rid the State of lawlessness and criminality while maintaining professionalism, civility, and adherence to international best practices,” the statement concluded.