The Lagos State Police Command has explained why and how it dispersed the #justiceforMohbad protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos late Thursday, September 21.
In a statement obtained by News Band dated September 22, 2023, entitled “RE: Crowd dispersal at Lekki toll gate”, the Police Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that the protesters violated “the laid down agreement” they had with the Police Command.
SP Hundeyin said: “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 8pm latest and should terminate at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island.
“It was clearly stated for 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 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 ground in persuading the people at the toll gate to disperse peacefully.”
According to Hundeyin, the organizers sent out messages on social media asking everyone to go home, clarifying in clear terms that it was not a protest but a procession which had been successfully concluded.
The persuasion and appeal, which went on for hours, he noted, met defiance both in words and action.
The defiance led to traffic build up at some point with all lanes in and out of Lekki “totally blocked” and vehicular movement on the ever-busy expressway brought to a total standstill.
Hundeyin continued: “Having gone down this road before, having learnt from previous similar encounters, and having studied the pattern in the crowd, the red flags and early warning signs of total 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.”
He, however, stressed that “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,” Hundeyin stated.
He expressed appreciation to the procession organizers for keeping faith with the Command and assures all supporters of #justiceforMohbad and Lagosians at large that the Command would continue to prioritize their safety and security at all times.
Respecting the ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Mr Ilerioluwa Aloba he said that it is progressing well.
Hundeyin requested the general public 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,” he concluded. Read more.
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