Lagos, Nigeria – Residents of the Oke‑Ogun neighbourhood, a tightly‑knit community built around a centuries‑old shrine to Saint Basil, have been shocked as municipal authorities began demolishing homes in the area last week. Officials claim the demolition is part of a city‑wide urban renewal plan aimed at expanding a new highway corridor. However, community leaders argue that the shrine is a protected cultural heritage site and that the forced evictions violate both national law and international conventions on the rights of indigenous peoples. Human‑rights groups have filed an urgent injunction, demanding a halt to the clear‑cutting until a thorough cultural‑impact assessment is completed.
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