Thirty-two children living with developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy and autism, have been rendered homeless following the forced eviction of Magnificient Therapy Services, a therapy and caregiving centre located in Yaba, Lagos.
The eviction, which took place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, followed a court-enforced action arising from a prolonged tenancy dispute involving the facility, which had occupied the building for 16 years. The incident disrupted therapy sessions and displaced vulnerable children who depend on structured routines and specialised care for their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
Among the affected children was eight-year-old Chinedu, a child living with cerebral palsy who relies on daily movement therapy to improve his mobility. According to caregivers, the children were suddenly thrown into confusion when officials and unidentified men arrived at the centre to enforce the eviction order, forcing staff members to hurriedly move the children and salvage belongings from the premises.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as therapy equipment and furniture were dragged outside while children, including those dependent on wheelchairs and constant supervision, were left exposed outdoors as caregivers struggled to comfort them.
Speaking on the development, co-founder and therapist, Bidemi Jaiyesimi, described the incident as devastating for both the children and staff members.
“This is not just a building we lost. We lost a safe space for children who depend on routine, care, and stability to survive each day,” Jaiyesimi said.
He explained that many of the children at the centre live with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, dyslexia, and other developmental conditions that require continuous therapy, familiar surroundings, and consistent caregiving.
According to him, the organisation had received a six-month notice to vacate the property and was making efforts to raise funds for relocation before the eviction was carried out.
“We were not refusing to move. We were trying to survive the process without abandoning the children,” he added.
The centre, founded in 2010 in a two-bedroom apartment with only two children, has grown into a support facility providing therapy and care for children with special needs. It currently caters for 32 children with the support of 23 staff members.
Jaiyesimi revealed that the centre survives largely on donations, while some parents contribute between N80,000 and N100,000 every three months to support therapy and caregiving services despite prevailing economic challenges.
Following the eviction, some parents reportedly rushed to the centre in panic and took their children home. However, orphans and children without immediate guardians were temporarily moved into an uncompleted building, while neighbours provided emergency shelter assistance.
Advocates have warned that sudden disruption in therapy and caregiving environments could negatively affect the development and mental well-being of children with disabilities, particularly those who rely heavily on routine and structured learning systems.
The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund have consistently stressed the importance of stable, continuous, and community-based support systems for children with developmental disabilities, warning that interruptions in care may lead to long-term developmental setbacks and social exclusion.
Jaiyesimi appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to urgently intervene by providing a safe and permanent facility for the displaced children.
“All we need now is urgent intervention from the government and well-meaning individuals,” he pleaded.
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