No fewer than five residents have been brutally murdered, at least eight others injured, and several properties destroyed after armed youths allegedly invaded Sogunro community in Lagos State.
As gathered, the midnight attack has thrown the waterfront settlement into panic and forced terrified residents to flee their homes in fear that the attackers may return.
The attackers, as learnt on Friday, attacked with guns, axes and other dangerous weapons, allegedly stormed the community around midnight on Sunday, November 1, following a dispute over demands for money to organise a party.
The bloody invasion, which lasted into the early hours of Monday, November 2, left a trail of death and destruction, with some victims reportedly shot at close range, others hacked with axes, while at least one body was allegedly dumped in a canal.
The Coalition against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Landgrabbing and Displacement in Lagos State, which disclosed the killings, said the attackers were youths from neighbouring Iwaya community and allegedly acted under the leadership of their youth leader.
The coalition said the assailants descended on Sogunro after residents reportedly refused demands for money for a party, turning what appeared to be a dispute into a deadly assault that has left families mourning and survivors gripped by fear.
With the alleged perpetrators still at large, residents are reportedly afraid to sleep in their homes, particularly those living close to the boundary between Sogunro and Iwaya, over fears that the attackers could return.
Some frightened residents have reportedly abandoned their homes and taken refuge in boats or sought shelter with neighbours along the waterfront, while others remain uncertain about their safety.
The coalition, in a strongly worded statement, demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killings, warning that failure to act swiftly could expose the already traumatised community to further attacks.
It described the killings as heinous and called on the police and other security agencies to move against the alleged perpetrators and provide urgent protection for vulnerable residents.
The latest bloodshed has also raised fresh concerns about the security and survival of residents of the embattled waterfront settlements of Sogunro, Makoko and Oko Agbon, which were at the centre of a major demolition and forced-eviction controversy earlier this year.
The coalition recalled that an estimated 30,000 residents were displaced when the Lagos State Government embarked on large-scale demolitions in the three communities between December 2025 and mid-January 2026.
The demolitions were eventually halted following protests and widespread public outcry, allowing some residents to remain in the settlements and begin rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.
According to the coalition, the communities have since been awaiting further details of a proposed United Nations-supported Makoko Water Cities project, which was expected to be implemented in partnership with the affected residents and for their benefit.
However, uncertainty reportedly persists over the proposed development, with questions surrounding the involvement of community representatives and the terms of the project.
The coalition disclosed that the Oba of Iwaya hosted an initial meeting last month between representatives of the Lagos State Government and some Baales from Makoko to discuss a new project for the community.
But the meeting reportedly ended without a clear resolution after some of the traditional community leaders insisted that their legal representatives must be present and that they needed full details of the proposed project before proceeding.
The coalition’s latest intervention has therefore placed renewed focus on the vulnerability of residents in the waterfront communities, where previous demolitions, displacement fears and uncertainty over future development have compounded the challenges facing inhabitants.
It warned that the latest killings must not be allowed to degenerate into further violence or become another unresolved security crisis.
The group urged the police to immediately identify, arrest and prosecute everyone allegedly involved in the attack, while calling for urgent security measures to prevent another invasion.
It also called for steps to guarantee the safety of residents who have been forced to abandon their homes, insisting that no community should be left at the mercy of armed attackers.
For families of the five victims, however, the immediate concern remains justice for their loved ones, while survivors continue to live under the shadow of another possible night of violence.
Editorial note: The account of the attack and the alleged involvement of Iwaya youths is based on the coalition’s statement. Before publication, independently confirm the death toll, number of injured persons, police response, identities of victims and the alleged role of the Iwaya youth leader. It would also be important to obtain the Lagos Police Command’s reaction.