Mohbad: Why We Dispersed Youths Gathered At Lekki Tollgate – Police ( see full statement)

The Lagos State Police Command explained on Friday why it had to disperse the young people who had congregated at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State following the candlelight vigil organized in memory of the late Afrobeats musician Mohbad.

There has been widespread outrage and demands for a “thorough” probe following the disputed death of the 27-year-old last Tuesday. The official candlelight procession in Mohbad’s honor took place at Victoria Island’s Muri Okunola Park with federal representatives in attendance.

However, other videos that were widely posted online showed some spectators running for cover as police fired tear gas canisters at the persistent gathering. a statement released on Friday, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that the Lagos State Police Command and the organizers of the candlelight procession had agreed that the procession would conclude at Muri Okunola by 8 o’clock that evening.

“It was clearly stated for the avoidance of doubt that in the interest of all Lagosians and considering the heavy use of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the Lekki Toll Gate would be a no-go area,” he said.

According to Hundeyin, procession-goers strayed from the agreed perimeters of the procession, shutting down movement on the Lekki-Epe highway.

“Therefore, in fulfillment of our mandate to protect life and property, maintain law and order, and prevent crimes, we adopted the least harmful method of crowd dispersal, following the failure of verbal persuasion – the use of teargas,” the statement continued.

“Not a single live ammunition was fired! The police adopted crowd management best practices in engaging the unruly crowd. No life was lost neither was there any injury.”

See the full statement below:

RE: CROWD DISPERSAL AT LEKKI TOLL GATE

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.

It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Police Command had an agreement with the organizers of the candle light procession that the procession was to end at 8 pm latest and should terminate at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island. It was clearly stated for the avoidance of doubt that in the interest of all Lagosians and considering the heavy use of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the Lekki Toll Gate would be a no-go area.

It, however, became disconcerting that after the procession duly ended at Muri Okunola Park as agreed, with the police providing optimal security all through, some persons started gathering at the Lekki Toll Gate with the intent to manifest objectives extraneous to the #justiceforMohbad initiative.

Being a clear violation of the laid down agreement, the Lagos State Police Command invited the procession organizers who came back and joined the officers on the ground in persuading the people at the toll gate to disperse peacefully. The organizers equally sent out messages on social media asking everyone to go home, clarifying in clear terms that it was not a protest but a procession that had been successfully concluded. This persuasion and appeal went on for hours, to which the police and organizers met defiance, both in words and action. At this point, all lanes in and out of Lekki had been blocked. Vehicular movement on the ever-busy expressway had been brought to a total standstill, leading to traffic build-up.

Having gone down this road before, having learned from previous similar encounters, and having studied the pattern in the crowd, the red flags and early warning signs of chaos and anarchy were discernible.

Therefore, in fulfillment of our mandate to protect life and property, maintain law and order, and prevent crimes, we adopted the least harmful method of crowd dispersal, following the failure of verbal persuasion – the use of teargas. Not a single live ammunition was fired! The police adopted crowd management best practices in engaging the unruly crowd. No life was lost neither was there any injury.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, hereby warns mischief makers that any person or group of persons found disturbing the peace of the state, under whatever guise, would be promptly arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The Lagos State Police Command also appreciates the procession organizers for keeping faith with the Command and assures all supporters of #justiceforMohbad and Lagosians at large that it will continue to prioritize their safety and security at all times.

Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Mr Ilerioluwa Aloba is progressing well. The general public are, therefore, requested to avoid creating unnecessary distractions and give the Command the stable internal security space to undertake a conclusive and timeous investigation.

In this process, it should be noted that the Lagos State Police Command has, as promised, been interfacing closely and regularly with all meaningful support groups of #justiceforMohbad. This synergy shall be sustained while the general public are assured that they would be continually updated on the progress of the investigation.

SP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN, anipr, mipra
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
LAGOS STATE COMMAND
IKEJA

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023.