Lagos CP orders arrest of security guards for ‘refusing to allow him into estate’

Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos state commissioner of police, on Saturday, ordered the arrest of four security guards for their “refusal to allow” him into Brooks Estate, Magodo.

Adekunle Ajisebutu, the state police spokesman, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.

Ajisebutu said the statement was to debunk reports making the rounds that the CP locked down the estate during his visit.

According to the spokesman, the commissioner had visited the estate on Saturday to meet a “strategic partner”, but was refused entry by some private security guards, even after being formally introduced.

“All appeals to the security men to allow the CP go to see someone at a function where an urgent matter bordering on security was to be discussed, fell on deaf ears even when they had foreknowledge of his coming,” the statement reads.

“In spite of this deliberate humiliation, the senior police officer remained calm. When it became obvious that the security men were going overboard, the CP, after about 30 minutes humiliation, ordered the arrest of four of the security men, leaving one.

“However, in order not to make the Estate porous, the Commissioner of Police immediately posted well-armed policemen at the gate to support the security man left behind.

“A few minutes later, a female resident of the Estate later identified as Adebola Fatiregun who didn’t witness the incident but heard of it, stormed the gate in anger, inciting other residents against the Commissioner of Police and his aides.

“She was also arrested for inciting violence and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”

The police spokesman said all those arrested were taken to the Isheri police division where they made statements, but were released minutes after following the intervention of “notable individuals”.

“Some residents of the Estate, in solidarity with the arrested security men, deliberately closed the gate, thereby creating a temporary gridlock. This they did after the CP had left, perhaps to blackmail him and make him release the security men,” Ajisebutu added.