On Monday, something very surprising and upsetting happened at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Imagine a place where lawmakers meet to decide important rules for everyone suddenly filled with confusion and fear. This is what went on that day.
What Sparked the Chaos?
The trouble began because of a disagreement about who should lead the Assembly. The old Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was removed by most lawmakers on January 13, 2025. Obasa did not think this was fair—even though he was on holiday in Atlanta, USA, he went to court to ask for a fair chance to be heard. Rumours started swirling that Obasa might try to return to the Assembly on February 18, 2025.
The Call for Extra Security
Worried by these rumours, the acting clerk of the Assembly sent a very important letter on February 14, 2025, to the Department of State Services (DSS). In the letter (which had a long reference number: LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323), he asked the DSS to bring more security and to watch the Assembly very carefully from February 15 onward. The clerk was afraid that if Obasa returned, it might cause even more trouble.
The Invasion and Forced Entry
When the lawmakers arrived for their meeting—scheduled for 11:00 am—they found something shocking: the offices of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the main meeting room were locked by DSS officers. These officers were dressed in black jackets, helmets, and face masks, and they were armed. For about two hours, the lawmakers had to wait outside, unable to enter the building. Finally, they had to force their way in.
During this tense moment, the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda—the first woman to hold that position—was overwhelmed by emotion. Surrounded by a small group of about 36 supportive lawmakers and assembly staff, she burst into tears. It was a very human moment in the middle of all the chaos.
A Chaotic Meeting and Angry Voices
After the forceful entry, the meeting finally started at around 12:51 pm. This was the seventh meeting that Speaker Meranda had led since Obasa was removed. In the meeting, several lawmakers spoke out angrily about what had happened:
Kehinde Joseph asked for the President to step in and make sure that those responsible for the chaos were held accountable.
Stephen Ogundipe described the whole event as a “rape of democracy,” meaning he thought it was a very serious and unfair violation of their rights.
Sabur Oluwa reminded everyone that even if people are unhappy with a leader, using force and armed men is never the right solution.
The meeting also revealed that one lawmaker, Kazeem Osho, had been hurt so badly during the tense moments that he had to be taken to the hospital.
Standing Together in Tough Times
Even though the day was filled with anger and fear, the lawmakers and staff showed a strong sense of unity. They held a vote to show their support for Speaker Meranda, standing together in a difficult time. After the vote of confidence, Speaker Meranda ended the meeting for the day so that the situation could be sorted out.
What the Assembly Said
Later on, a spokesperson named Kayode Ogundipe explained that the Assembly had indeed invited the DSS to help keep the building safe. However, the instructions were never meant to include locking up important offices or barring lawmakers from their meeting rooms. This mistake has now raised big questions about how much outside interference should be allowed in the Assembly.
Reactions from Other Leaders
The chaos in the Assembly wasn’t just a local issue. Many leaders outside the Assembly also spoke up:
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called the invasion “utterly reprehensible” and said it was an attack on democracy. He believed that the President should let state matters be handled by state leaders without interference.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a former candidate for Lagos State governor, said that the Assembly must serve the people and not be controlled by a few powerful individuals. He called for a fair investigation to find out who was responsible for the chaos.
Changes in the Police and Security Forces
In the midst of all this, the Police Service Commission made a big change by replacing the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Lanre Ishola, with a new leader named Moshood Jimoh. Jimoh had a long history of working in various police roles, and his appointment was part of the effort to restore order. Additionally, some DSS officers who were attached to the governor were replaced because they had been on duty too long, and there is even talk that the head of the DSS in Lagos might be replaced soon.
A Human Story of Fear, Unity, and Hope
What happened on Monday was not just about political power or rules—it was about people. The lawmakers and assembly workers felt scared when armed men locked their offices and stopped them from doing their jobs. Yet, in that scary moment, they also showed great courage by coming together to support Speaker Meranda and stand up for their right to work in a safe, fair place.
Now, everyone hopes that a proper, peaceful solution will be found so that the Assembly can once again be a place where important decisions are made with respect, unity, and care for the people of Lagos.
