Mohbad: Police Reveals Why Teargas Was Used To Disperse Crowd At Candlelight Procession

The Lagos State Police Command has issued a statement addressing the recent crowd dispersal incident at the Lekki Toll Gate during a candlelight procession held in memory of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

The statement, released on Friday morning by the Lagos State PPRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, explained that an agreement had been reached with the organisers of the candlelight procession that the event would conclude by 8:00 PM and terminate at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island.

The agreement explicitly specified that the Lekki Toll Gate would be off-limits, considering the heavy use of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

However, it was observed that after the procession had officially ended at Muri Okunola Park, some individuals began congregating at the Lekki Toll Gate with intentions that deviated from the #justiceforMohbad initiative.

This development was deemed a clear violation of the agreed-upon terms.

In response to the situation, the Lagos State Police Command engaged in efforts to persuade the people at the toll gate to disperse peacefully.

The organisers of the procession also utilised social media platforms to encourage everyone to return home, emphasising that it was not a protest but a concluded procession.

Despite these efforts, some individuals continued to defy the instructions, both in their words and actions.

As a result, all lanes in and out of Lekki were blocked, leading to a complete standstill of vehicular movement on the expressway.

In light of previous similar encounters and the potential for chaos and anarchy, the Lagos State Police Command decided to employ the least harmful method of crowd dispersal, namely the use of tear gas.

Importantly, no live ammunition was fired, and the police adhered to crowd management best practices. There were no reported casualties or injuries during the dispersal.

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…

— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) September 22, 2023