Describing the attack as brutal, in a video shared on social media platforms, the witnesses stated that they were teargassed despite being with policemen who were pretending to be protecting them against any harm.
Protesters and fans of the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, who were teargassed by personnel of the Nigerian police force during a candlelight procession at Lekki tollgate have narrated how they were attacked by the police from behind.
Describing the attack as brutal, in a video shared on social media platforms, the witnesses stated that they were teargassed despite being with policemen who were pretending to be protecting them against any harm.
The eyewitnesses - a male and female - who spoke in a viral video, explained that they were in the middle of the Lekki tollgate with some policemen who were guarding them when suddenly people they could not identify started firing teargas canisters at them from behind.
They noted that several people were injured and wounded as there was a gridlock during the attack.
While some said the teargas canisters were fired by police officers in the state, a video shared on X through actress Iyabo Ojo’s Instagram live video and seen by SaharaReporters had one of those who attended the candlelight saying, “I came out for my brother, Mohbad. This is the cabman who helped me.
Irresponsible policing. Such @PoliceNG can't be trusted to deliver justice for MohBad... The police is an indicted party in the matter & so can't be a judge in their on case.#justiceformohbad @davido @DamilojuJLT @DanielRegha @IYSexxy @OGBdeyforyou @BellaShmurda @thecuteabiola pic.twitter.com/NsQff6vtyy
— Francis Nwapa (@FNwapa) September 22, 2023
They fired teargas. These people came from the back. We don’t know them. I don’t even know them. All the police officers were there securing us.”
Corroborating the account, another witness, a female while explaining further, said, “We were sitting in front of the tollgate. We had a lot of police officers there. So, where the teargas came from, we don’t see it. We just saw the tear gas from the back. No car could move. It was this cab that helped us.”
A statement later issued by the spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, blamed the protesters for holding an event at the Lekki tollgate, saying it had been designated as a “no-go area”.
It said, “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.
“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 which 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 totally 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 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. 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 would 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.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have expressed doubt that police authorities would deliver justice in the alleged killing of the late singer.
For instance, an X account user, Francis Nwapa, who shared a video showing fans lamenting the incident, wrote: "Irresponsible policing. Such @PoliceNG can't be trusted to deliver justice for MohBad... The police is an indicted party in the matter & so can't be a judge in their on case. #justiceformohbad."