The Otodo Gbame and Itedo communities of two of the largest informal fishing settlements in Lagos, with an estimated population of 40,000 people living on the waterside. On 17 March, in the early hours, the Itedo community was forced to flee when government bulldozers arrived to destroy their neighbourhood.

Officials have variously cited environmental concerns as well as security against “militants” as the reason for the demolitions, which have now evicted at least 35,000 people and have continued despite a January court injunction ordering they be halted. Few Nigerians doubt that the appropriated lands, located on choice waterfront property, will be used to build luxury enclaves.

Journalist Ijeoma Joy Ike and photographer Andrew Esiebo asked eight of the residents to describe what happened.

Pastor Ashegbon amid the ruins: ‘Our pleas fell on deaf ears.’
Pastor Ashegbon amid the ruins: ‘Our pleas fell on deaf ears.’ - Pastor Ashegbon, 48: “We woke up and saw about four caterpillars [bulldozers] entering the neighbourhood. The baale [local leader] and I went out to inquire what they wanted inside our neighbourhood. They told us that they have come to demolish our homes, and when we asked why, they said it was an order from the government. “We tried pleading with them and they told us to wait for their boss; when the man arrived he ordered them to continue with the demolitions. Our pleas fell on deaf ears. We lost all our properties and even recorded a loss of two children on that day – the children were still sleeping inside when the demolishers started tearing their house apart. “They came here as early as 7am, without any notice while some people were still asleep inside their homes. We need help because we have been left stranded with no shelter or food. The government needs to do something. More than 30,000 members of our community were forced to flee from our homes.” © Andrew Esiebo for the Guardian