By Ayodele Johnson

The Muri Okunola Park located in Victoria Island, Lagos, was the venue set for a candlelight procession to remember the late Afrobeats musician, Mohbad. But some mourners suddenly acted off-script and they got teargassed because of their lack of discretion.

This was the explanation given by the Lagos State Police while responding to the accusations that some of their officers discharged teargas at the Lekki Toll Gate where the mourners went ahead to gather after the candlelight procession around 08:00 in the evening on Thursday.

According to a statement signed by police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, this was not included in the agreement reached with the organisers of the Victoria Island rally. Hence the reason why measures were taken against the illegal gathering.

Part of the statement goes thus:

“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 had an agreement with the organisers 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.”

📢Update from Lagos State Police Command:

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…

— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) September 22, 2023

ALSO READ: Delay in unravelling Mohbad’s death sets new fire

Despite hiccups getting in the way, and the warning from law enforcement to mischief makers, there is still progress when considering what the police have achieved so far. To find out the cause of Mohbad’s death, his corpse had to be exhumed.

Now, things have progressed to the stage of an autopsy, with the police expecting the results to add to their findings.

When Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, the Lagos State Police Commissioner at a press briefing on Monday, September 18, unveiled a 13-person Special Investigation Team that will be headed by his deputy, Saheed Kassim, it was disclosed that the autopsy will involve a histological examination that is expected to test tissues and organs of the human body. A second type of test that will be carried out is the toxicological analysis which probes for substances.

After the confirmation that the autopsy has been concluded, it looks like the police are staying true to their word to ensure quick justice. And that is hardly surprising with all the interest that Mohbad’s death has generated around the world.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.