Lagos State Task Force Threatened To Beat Me – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Former governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has disclosed that officials of the Lagos State Task Force threatened to beat him up.

He made the allegation while reacting to the recent demolition of buildings at Jakande Estate by the Lagos State Government.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise News, he lamented that about 80 percent of Lagos residents live in poverty.

The politician blamed the exclusionary development policies that fail to carry the majority of the population along for the situation in the state.

He condemned the demolition exercise, describing it as unlawful, anti-poor and reflective of a development model that sidelines vulnerable residents.

According to Rhodes-Vivour, his comments were based on his personal experience at the demolition site, where he alleged that officials of a state task force acted with violence and disregard for due process.

“I went to Ilasan and saw, first-hand, the brutality. In front of me, they beat this man to coma. In front of me. The so-called task force of Lagos State threatened to beat me and started beating people next to me mercilessly,” he said.

He further alleged that an engineer identified as Umaru was detained for three days and subjected to physical abuse, adding that tear gas was also fired at him during the incident.

“This is the violence that has come to define this government. When you have a lawless government that does not even follow court injunctions, that is a serious problem,” Rhodes-Vivour stated.

While acknowledging the state government’s pledge to compensate affected residents, he dismissed the proposed sum as grossly inadequate.

“They are talking about compensation of ₦11.2 million. ₦11.2 million cannot afford a two or three-bedroom apartment in that area today,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour accused the government of misapplying the Land Use Act to dispossess residents in favour of private interests rather than genuine public good.

“Section 28 of the Land Use Act allows land acquisition for overriding public interest, but what we are seeing is land being taken for private individuals who will only build more expensive housing,” he argued.