Police officers in Lagos on January 28, 2026, attacked journalists covering a protest against the demolition of alleged illegal structures at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, exposing the media workers to tear gas, physical assault and attempted arrest as they were carrying out their professional duties.
Among those affected was Opeyemi Lawal, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who said police fired tear gas at both protesters and observers, including members of the press. “The police are tear-gassing us at Alausa. I can’t breathe,” she said, adding that several people collapsed after inhaling the gas and that she also passed out at some point.
Lawal further alleged that officers attempted to arrest her despite identifying herself as a journalist. According to her account, she was spared only after presenting her press ID, while other individuals were taken into custody.
Also, a separate account published by FIJ detailed how journalists were pushed into the crowd as tear gas canisters were discharged. One reporter recounted struggling to breathe as officers fired canisters at close range, describing the experience as life-threatening and deliberate.
