Rhodes-Vivour Decries Lagos Task Force Brutality

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a prominent political figure and former governorship candidate, has leveled explosive allegations against the Lagos State Task Force, claiming officials threatened him with physical assault during a recent demolition exercise. The confrontation reportedly occurred at Jakande Estate, where the state government has embarked on a controversial campaign to clear structures, a move Rhodes-Vivour describes as a direct assault on the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Appearing on Arise News, the architect-turned-politician painted a grim picture of the scene at Ilasan, alleging that he witnessed firsthand a level of state-sponsored violence that has become “defining” for the current administration. He recounted a harrowing moment where he claims task force operatives beat an individual until he lapsed into a coma right before his eyes. When he attempted to intervene, Rhodes-Vivour alleges the officers turned their aggression toward him, issuing verbal threats of a beating and firing tear gas in his direction.

The politician further highlighted the plight of a resident identified as Umaru, an engineer who was allegedly detained for three days and subjected to physical abuse by authorities. Rhodes-Vivour used these incidents to argue that the state is operating with a total disregard for the rule of law, claiming the demolitions proceeded despite a subsisting court injunction intended to halt the exercise. For him, this “lawlessness” signals a development model that prioritizes private interests over the welfare of the public.

A central theme of Rhodes-Vivour’s critique is the deepening poverty in Lagos, which he estimates affects nearly 80 percent of the population. He argued that the government’s urban renewal strategies are inherently exclusionary, systematically displacing long-term residents to make way for high-end developments that the average Lagosian cannot afford. By clearing public housing originally envisioned by the late Lateef Jakande to provide affordable shelter, he claims the state is effectively manufacturing a homelessness crisis.

The issue of compensation has also become a major flashpoint. While the Lagos State Government has pledged payouts to those displaced, Rhodes-Vivour dismissed the proposed sum of ₦11.2 million as a “grossly inadequate” pittance. He pointed out that in the current economic climate, such an amount is nowhere near enough to secure a two or three-bedroom apartment in the same vicinity, essentially forcing former homeowners into a cycle of poverty and displacement.

Rhodes-Vivour’s legal critique focused on the perceived misapplication of the Land Use Act. He noted that while Section 28 allows for land acquisition in the name of “overriding public interest,” the reality on the ground appears to be a transfer of land to private developers. He argued that taking land from the poor to build luxury estates for the wealthy does not meet the legal threshold of public good and instead exacerbates the cost-of-living crisis gripping the state.

The fallout from the Jakande Estate demolitions has sparked wider protests, with residents recently storming the State House of Assembly to demand an end to “forceful evictions.” Many of these families have lived in the area for over two decades and possess valid title documents, yet they find themselves caught in the path of heavy machinery. Rhodes-Vivour warned that a government that relies on “thugocracy” and violence to secure land will eventually face the consequences of a marginalized and angry populace.

As the standoff between the state government and the displaced residents of Jakande Estate continues, Rhodes-Vivour’s testimony adds a high-profile voice to the growing chorus of dissent. He maintained that while urban growth is necessary, it must be humane and inclusive. For the former candidate, the current approach is not development—it is a “brazen daylight rape” of citizen rights that threatens the very social fabric of Lagos.