Mohbad: Lagos Police admit the use of tear gas in Lekki, On Friday, the Lagos State Police Command stated that its officers used tear gas to disperse a gathering at the toll gate on September 21 at Lekki Phase 1.
This information was published on the official page of the Lagos State Police Command’s handle under the signature of SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s public relations officer.
Recall that reports of an alleged incident involving the use of tear gas by the Lagos State Police in the Lekki area surfaced yesterday, causing several people to sustain injuries.
“The Lagos State Police Command is fully aware of false narratives making the rounds in relation to the dispersal of crowds at the Lekki Toll Gate yesterday, September 21, 2023,” the command’s statement from the press conference says.
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“It is pertinent to note that the Lagos State Police Command had a contract with the candlelight procession organizers that the procession was to stop at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island, at the latest by 8 o’clock at night. For the avoidance of doubt, it was made very clear that the Lekki Toll Gate would be off-limits in the interest of all Lagosians and given the busy nature of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
“However, it became concerning that some people began congregating at the Lekki Toll Gate with the goal to display objectives unrelated to the #justiceforMohbad effort after the procession had concluded at Muri Okunola Park as promised, with the police maintaining optimal security throughout.
As a blatant violation of the established agreement, the Lagos State Police Command invited the procession organizers, who returned and worked with the officers on the ground to convince the toll gate’s patrons to disperse amicably. Additionally, the organizers requested that everyone leave via social media, making it quite clear that this was not a protest but rather a march that had effectively ended. Hours were spent in this persuading and appeal, during which the organizers and the police encountered defiance in both words and deeds. Lekki’s entrance and exit lanes were now completely stopped, causing a backup on the already congested road.
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“Having been in comparable circumstances before, having taken what I had learnt from those experiences, and having observed the pattern in the crowd, I could see the red flags and early warning indications of complete mayhem and anarchy. After verbal persuasion failed, we used tear gas to disperse the gathering in order to fulfill our responsibility to preserve life and property, uphold law and order, and prevent crime. This was the least detrimental option available. No live rounds were fired at all! In order to control the unruly mob, the police used best practices for crowd management. There were no fatalities and no injuries.
The Lagos State Command Commissioner of Police hereby issues a warning to troublemakers, stating that anyone or any group of people discovered disturbing the peace of the state, regardless of their cover, will be quickly apprehended and prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.
The organizers of the parade are also appreciated by the Lagos State Police Command, which assures all supporters of #justiceforMohbad and Lagosians in general that their safety and security would always come first.
“In the meantime, the ongoing inquiry into the events leading up to Mr. Ilerioluwa Aloba’s death is moving well. Therefore, the general people is urged to refrain from causing unneeded disruptions and grant the Command the stable internal security space it needs to conduct a thorough investigation on schedule.
It should be emphasized that the Lagos State Police Command has been interacting closely and frequently with all significant support organizations of #justiceforMohbad throughout this process, as promised. This collaboration will continue, and the public is guaranteed to receive regular updates on the investigation’s status.
Ilerioluwa Aloba (MohBad), who passed away on September 12, was remembered during the candlelight vigil. He was buried in the Lagos neighborhood of Ikorodu, which aroused curiosity and rumors about the circumstances of his passing. In particular, his body was exhumed, and an autopsy was performed; the public is anxiously awaiting the results.
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