The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said that some residents of the community who got caught up in the attack also sustained varying degrees of injuries.

While speaking with our correspondent in an interview, Hundeyin said, “There was an attack on the community on Saturday morning. They burnthouses and there was a baby found in the burnt houses. When the police got there, they saw houses that were burnt and shops looted. Some members of the community also sustained gunshot wounds.”

It was learnt that some hoodlums invaded the community on Friday night, shooting sporadically.

A police source who was privy to the development but preferred anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the matter told our correspondent that the sound of gunshots made residents scamper for safety.

The source said, “Some hoodlums who were bearing different kinds of weapons invaded the community on Friday night. They started shooting and breaking into people’s homes. They also started to inflict injuries on anyone they sighted. The attack went on throughout midnight and by the time they were done, about 10 people were already shot.

“The hoodlums also set some houses in the community on fire and that was what led to the burning of an infant. The mother of the baby was indoors with her two kids when they torched the house she was in. The shock made her escape with only her first child while the baby was left behind. When we arrived in the morning, we saw the remains of the baby while the father also wept bitterly while carrying it.”

The police source added that beyond setting some buildings on fire, the attackers also destroyed many properties.

Meanwhile, security operatives have been drafted to the scene of the incident to forestall a recurrence.

some of the injured victims, which included an aged man, had been taken to the hospital, while others who had minor injuries had been discharged.

A resident of the community who refused to identify himself due to the sensitive nature of the incident told our correspondent that the attack was due to a leadership dispute.

The source said, “The incident was due to a leadership tussle which had existed for more than eight years. The people had kicked against a new traditional ruler who was not an indigene of the community. They insisted on submitting to the leadership of a monarch who has roots in the community.”

Hundeyin who spoke further on the matter confirmed that there had been a crisis bordering on a leadership tussle in the community.

He said, “There has been a leadership tussle in the community before the incident, and we treat it as a civil matter. Our own is to maintain peace and order and we have been doing our best to do that before this particular midnight attack. We are not linking the leadership crisis to what happened. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause.”

When contacted, the Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori LCDA, Prince Musibau Asafa, said he was in a church service.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigation had begun into the allegations.

He said, “I can confirm to you that we have received the petition and investigation has commenced.”

Savage, in the petition currently in circulation, accused Davido of uttering disrespectful words in reaction to a post which included herself and the singer’s Baby mama, Sophia Momodu’s Instagram story.

The singer explained how she expressed disappointment at Davido’s threats and reminded him of how she stood by his family, especially when he lost his son, Ifeanyi.

She however claimed to have thereafter received calls from mutual connections seeking to know what she did to upset Davido and also questioning her relationship with Sophia.

The petition read in part, “On the 23rd of December, I made a post which included myself and Sophia Momodu’s Instagram Story- a feature on Instagram which allows you to put up a post for twenty-four hours, and MR. DAVID ADELEKE sent messages to my manager who’s also part of his management team that I shouldn’t worry and should never say a word to him and that I was taunting him, uttering very đisrespectful, malicious and derogatory words to my person.

“I responded to MR. DAVID ADELEKE’s message and told him not to reach out to me, especially as I feel like I have been there for him and his daughter, Imade, and more importantly when he lost his son. The events of that day have also led to a barrage of calls and messages from our mutual connections, asking me what I did to MR. DAVID ADELEKE that he’s upset that I chose to maintain a relationship with Imade’s mother, Sophia Momodu, who he’s having issues with and also painting the exchange to look like I was the aggressor.”

Savage further alleged that Davido told their mutual connections to warn her to be careful in Lagos as she was going to deal with her.

“He has also told our connections to warn me to ‘be careful in Lagos because he was going to f”k me up’. This is beginning to feel like some form of online and offline harassment not just to me but also members of my team. The action of MR. DAVID ADELEKE is unethical and can be viewed as a direct threat to my rights to life, privacy, and dignity of my person,” she added.

PUNCH Metro had reported that there was a buzz on social media on Saturday, January 6, 2024, after both singers unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Davido and Savage were known to have had a cordial relationship over the years, with their children, Imade Adeleke and Jamil Balogun, following in their parents’ footsteps.

Both children attended the same school and had been seen on several occasions enjoying each other’s company.

However, there have been diverse speculations as to what could have informed both top artistes to unfollow each other, with some fans opining that the move could be a result of the waxing friendship between Savage and Sophia.

Before the petition, music executive, Tunji Balogun, popularly known as Tee Billz, had called out Davido for allegedly disrespecting his family, threatening to teach him a lesson.

In a post on his Instagram page, Tee Billz specifically accused Davido of “bullying” his ex-wife, Tiwa Savage.

The driver, Oyiga Michael, had cried out on social media that he was arrested by the police at Ijesha while trying to locate his way home using the Google Map app as a guide.

“Immediately we got to the turn to Ijesha, they (police) said we were following one way and were threatening to deflate our tyre.

“We have explained and explained and they don’t even want to hear as it was the map that was misleading and they’ve been threatening to beat us as well. We don’t have any money extra as we are coming from a wedding,” he said.

Michael disclosed that he was released, but his car was impounded by the police at the Cele Police Station, adding that the police said “We should bring 30,000 Naira.

“We don’t have any money to go home and we also don’t have any money to bribe and can’t leave the car here as well.”

As the driver was seeking help on X, the Lagos PPRO, Hundeyin reacted, saying, “Ignorance is not an excuse under the law. Google Maps is equally not an excuse. Stay calm and let the law take its course.”

Hundeyin maintained that police are not the ones to erect road signs, stressing that, “We are law enforcement officers, not lawmakers. We enforce the law made by the people.”

On the allegation that the policemen demanded N30,000 to free Michael, Hundeyin said, “They must not pay the bribe. It is an offence to give a bribe. It is, however, very okay to pay a fine. And that would be in court, not a police station.”

Michael admitted “It was a mistake from our end and we have perfectly learnt our lesson, sir. It won’t happen again as we understand perfectly how to navigate road junctions and use lanes on maps. I pray they tamper Justice with mercy.”

On Sunday morning, he posted, ”Thank you everybody for reaching out. I am fine. I was not detained, and neither was I harmed. Although our car is still at the station. We are asked to come back on Monday. Hopefully, they can forgive us and we can get it back.”

It was gathered that three guns belonging to policemen were hijacked during the incident that happened around Cele Bus Stop.

The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident on Wednesday

He, however, said he was yet to get details of what led to the incident.

In a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, and posted on the command’s Twitter page, the police said the videos were not only old but were also “maliciously” shared to incite residents and cause unrest in the state.

The police also revealed that its cybercrime unit had been mandated to fish out those behind the “deliberate misinformation for immediate prosecution.”

The command further assured residents that their safety remained a priority to the police, adding that measures had been put in place to ensure that Lagos remains peaceful.

The statement read, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, has called on residents and visitors to Lagos State to disregard old videos purportedly of ongoing riots in different parts of the state being shared on social media by mischief makers. These videos are not only old, but are being maliciously shared by scaremongers to incite and provoke people, cause panic, disharmony and unrest within Lagos State.

“While the Cybercrimes Unit of the command has been mandated to fish out the people behind this deliberate misinformation for immediate prosecution, the good people and residents of Lagos State are urged to disregard all forms of messages, especially on social media depicting fictitious, fallacious and divisive claims aimed at jeopardising the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

“Once again, the command assures Lagosians that all human and operational resources at its disposal have been fully and optimally deployed, especially at vulnerable points, including major markets across the state to ensure a total forestalling of breakdown of law and order in the state. CP Owohunwa therefore urges law abiding residents and visitors to Lagos State to go about their lawful duties without fear or apprehension as their safety and security remain prioritised.”

On Friday morning, suspected louts in Mile 12, Ketu and Ojota areas on the expressway, took to the road attacking commuters and creating chaos.

A driver, attached to one of the cab-hailing firms operating in the state who does not want his name in print over fears of harassment, said he had to turn into one of the streets due to the chaos.

Tweeps, who shared details of the ongoing fighting in the area, alleged they could hear sounds of gunshots.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed the unrest happening in the Mile 12 area of Lagos State.

He made this known via his Twitter handle on Friday.

Responding to a tweet asking the PPRO to confirm the rumour, Hundeyin replied, “ It is true. Our men are there. Reinforcement units have been deployed. Stay safe out there as we closely monitor and manage the situation.”

All 228 constables who are of Lagos origin, have been posted to various local government areas, according to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.

Hundeyin tweeted on Thursday, “All constables of Lagos State origin, 228 of them, of the 10,000 that graduated from various police training institutions last month, reported for duty today.

“All have been posted to their respective LGAs to boost community policing. Welcome onboard, guys.”

the Police Service Commission had asked the Accountant-General of the Federation to  halt the capture of 10,000 constables who recently graduated from police training colleges on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel System.

The commission stated that the police officers had not been issued their letters of appointment and should not be enrolled on the payment portal.

According to the Public Service Rules, public officers not captured on the IPPIS cannot be paid salaries and other emoluments.

The development followed the alleged refusal of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to submit their names to the PSC for vetting on the grounds that he was empowered by the Police Act, 2020 to recruit constables into the force.

The commission has also written to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Head of Service, Folasade Yemi-Esan about the enrolment of 20,000 police officers on the salary portal without letters of appointment.

Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, January 13, 2023, identified the victims as Saviour, 14, Bright, 13 and Deborah, 12 (surnames withheld).

The girls were rescued on January 8, 2023 at about 0600hrs when a patrol team noticed their suspicious movements within the area,” the statement read.

“Upon questioning, the girls revealed that they were fleeing the custody of a mistress who brought them from Akwa Ibom to Lagos under the guise of employment.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims, Saviour aged 14, Bright aged 13 and Deborah aged 12 (surnames withheld) upon reaching Lagos were locked by their mistress (still at large) in a hotel and starved for days as a means to force them into accepting prostitution. Contact has been established with the victims’ families.

“The Commander RRS, CSP Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi, has in line with the directive of the commissioner of police Lagos state, CP Abiodun Alabi, transferred the victims to the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Command for further investigation.

Hundeyin said he passed through the first and second checkpoints, adding that his “papers weren’t even asked for.”

Hundeyin attempted to stress how to relate with police officers on the road in a polite manner, saying “respect is reciprocal”, adding that people should not be unnecessarily aggressive, as he was passed at a checkpoint after he smiled.

Hundeyin shared his road experience with the police via his verified Twitter handle, late Thursday, where he revealed that police officers asked him to give them “something.”

He tweeted, “I finally carried out my social experiment. I drove around Ikeja at about 11:50pm, in mufti, in a private car. I passed through two police points. I spent five seconds at the first without a word from the police officer. He simply waved me on.

“I spent thirty seconds at the second. Officer: You be Uber? Me: No. it’s my personal car. Officer: Find me something na. Me: I no get anything. Officer: See as you fine. Find me something na. Me: (silence). Officer: Oya, dey go.

“On both occasions, immediately I was flagged down, I switched on the cabin light and wound down the glass on my side. I greeted first. In addition to this, in the second scenario, I smiled and deliberately appeared friendly.

“Note: They did not recognise me; neither did I identify myself. It never got to that. Papers weren’t even asked for. I am positive there are many people with similar experiences out there. Different strokes for different folks, I know. One thing is sure, however.

“Respect is reciprocal. Appreciate those who stand out there all day and night for lesser pay. Don’t be condescending. Don’t be unnecessarily aggressive. Don’t be docile too. Always be firm with your rights. And don’t resort to taking the laws in your hands.

There isn’t Utopia anywhere. Report the few bad eggs and we will continue to do internal cleansing. Thought to share my social experiment. Will tinker with the variables next time.

He, however, added that this wasn’t to invalidate or trivialise the bad experiences some motorists and commuters had. “Absolutely not,” he emphasised.

Reacting to him, popular ENDSARS activist, Rinu Oduala, said Hundeyin was trying to show that police harassment didn’t exist, saying this was because the PPRO never experienced police brautality in his life.

“You are not a young person struggling to make a living in Nigeria. You are a Police PRO who never experienced brutality in his life but needs to show that police harassment doesn’t exist.

“This planned public relation is failing, Oga Hundeyin. Go and re-strategise,” she replied in a tweet.