*Why we dispersed them – Lagos Police Command
By KEMI KASUMU
“Therefore, in fulfilment 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.
As fans took protest against killing of Afrobeats singer, Mohbad, to the next level in parts of Lagos and Ogun states on Thursday, the candlelight part of the procession held at Lekki Tollgate in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State ended in pandemonium as attendees of the peaceful procession, mainly youths, were dispersed with teargas by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force.
Circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death were the reason for the public outcries that have greeted the development since news of his passing broke out earlier in the week. He had been seen raising alarm on videos that have been further escalated by social media influencers calling for him to be protected from people threatening his life.
He named names and yet, neither government of Lagos State nor the Nigerian Police Force rose to his defence until he died following injuries he sustained when he was eventually caught down by his those behind the threat to his life.
After calls for action by angry youths and many other groups and individuals for the sake of sanctity of life, state government and police began to make effort on investigations, which many have described as medicine after death.
The official candlelight procession in honour of the 27-year-old Mohbad was held at Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island with federal authorities present.
However, several videos widely shared online showed several attendees scampering to safety as police officers shot teargas canisters at the unrelenting crowd.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Friday, explained that the Lagos State Police Command had an agreement with the organisers of the candlelight procession that the procession was to end by 8pm at Muri Okunola.
“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 fulfilment 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,” he made himself clear.
