At first, Makoko residents thought the low metallic hum vibrating across the lagoon was a distant generator or the rumbling of trucks on the nearby Third Mainland Bridge. “You could hear the machines before you could see them.”Makoko – Nigeria’s largest informal waterfront community – has existed for more than a century. During the December demolitions, government forces used teargas, say waterfront residents, which they allege led to the deaths of five people. “They destroyed it as though it meant nothing.”View image in fullscreen View image in fullscreen People salvage wood and belongings from the debris. Several residents say they have started sleeping on boats.

Source: The Guardian January 26, 2026 07:17 UTC