NUJ condemns unwarranted attacks on journalists, protesters at Alausa, Lagos
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for an investigation into the conduct of police officers deployed to the Lagos State House of Assembly during the January 28, anti-demolition protest at the House gate,Alausa.
NUJ National Secretary, Achike Chude, stated this in a statement, describing the police’s use of tear gas on a defenseless, non-violent crowd as a flagrant violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to assemble freely and associate with others.
Chude highlighted photographic and video evidence showing police deliberately targeting journalists during the protest, calling it a grave threat to press freedom.
The NUJ questioned Lagos State Government officials for not de-escalate the situation by engaging those exercising their democratic right to dissent and reminded the government that the cries of the displaced cannot be silenced by tear gas canisters.
“A government that destroys the homes of its poorest citizens without providing alternatives or compensation must, at the very least, have the courage to listen to their protests.
“We strongly condemn the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters and the targeted harassment of journalists by security operatives at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
“Reports indicate that the demonstration was a response by affected citizens to the demolition of their homes and properties and their forced evictions from communities in parts of the state.
“As is their responsibility, journalists from different media houses were on ground to witness and report the unfolding events.
“What eventually formed the fulcrum of media reports was the attack perpetrated by the police on both the fourth estate of the realm and citizens who had gathered peacefully to express their frustration and despair at the demolitions carried out in their communities by, or at the behest and authorization of, the government.
An Assault on Democratic Values
“Reports and video evidence confirm that security forces deployed tear gas against a defenseless crowd that remained non-violent throughout their march. Such actions are a flagrant violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to assemble freely and associate with others.
“In a thriving democracy, protest is not a favor granted by the state; it is a fundamental right. When the government uses the machinery of the state to silence those it has already displaced, it undermines the very social contract upon which its authority rests.
Targeting the Messengers of Truth
“Furthermore, the deliberate targeting of journalists during this incident is a grave threat to press freedom. Media professionals were tear-gassed and harassed despite clearly identifying themselves as press.
“We remind the Lagos State Government and the Police Command that: Journalists have a constitutional duty under Section 22 to hold the government accountable and report the truth to the public.
“An attack on a journalist is an attack on the public’s right to know. The use of force to prevent the documentation of state actions by the media is a hallmark of autocracy, not the “Centre of Excellence.”
“Our Demands; Immediate Accountability: We call for an investigation into the conduct of the officers deployed to Alausa on January 28. Those who gave the orders to fire tear gas canisters on a crowd containing children must be held responsible.
“Various media reports from the scene indicate peaceful, orderly conduct by aggrieved citizens, which did not necessitate the use of force or high-handedness. If the authorities have evidence of willful lawlessness or violence by anyone involved in the protest, the court is the proper place for adjudication.
“Officials of the state government should have done more to de-escalate the situation by effectively engaging those exercising their democratic right of dissent and disapproval of government action. Failure to do so placed the police in the unsavory position of forcefully and improperly removing both journalists and protesters in a manner that screams violation.
“The cries of the displaced cannot be silenced by canisters of tear gas. A government that destroys the homes of its poorest citizens without providing alternatives or compensation must, at the very least, have the courage to listen to their protests.
