By Abayomi Elias
Collage image of council logo and image of the Executive Chairman Mayor Dele Osinowo
The legal unit of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA has debunked the allegation of attacks on mobile police officers in Owode Onirin Market by armed thugs purported to have been sponsored by the LCDA Chairman.
Newsconnect gathered from a publication published by Prime Time reports on the 30th of March 2025 titled “How Lagos LG Chairman allegedly attacked on-duty mobile police officers with armed thugs”
The report has it that;
“Police officers from Lagos State Command stated were led by Mayor Dele Oshinowo, the Executive Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, and the fate of two Mobile Police officers, Supol Daniel Samuel and Inspector Bulus Yahona, is in jeopardy after they were allegedly attacked and shot by armed thugs.
“Mobile Police officers were there on lawful duty to enforce the judgment of the court, Mayor Oshinowo mobilized police officers from the Lagos State Command led by ASP Salako and some thugs, including the officials of the local government, who went there and attacked the victims, including the police officers, who were allegedly shot in the process.
“According to the residents, the LCDA Chairman, Mayor Oshinowo, allegedly led the armed men with dangerous weapons to the parcel of land, which the LG lost the matter before the court after several years of litigation.
“The Court gave judgment in favor of the Olowu family, which made the LG Chairman, Mayor Oshinowo, resort to self-help in total disregard of the court order, and the victims were attacked in the process.
“Trouble was said to have started after the Olowu Family went to execute the Lagos State High Court judgment, which granted them possession of the landed property located at Owode Onirin, which was covered by survey plan number MAL/121/77 made by Mr. Olaoye, a licensed surveyor, dated 26th February, 1977.
“The suit with number ID/1757/1994 between Mr. Femi Festus Olowu and Bode Olowu for themselves and on behalf of the B.I.Olowu Family versus the Local Government and Agbajowo Market Association.
“The presiding judge, Justice M.A. Savage, gave the order to the Olowu family to take possession of the land and directed the Lagos State Police Command, Task Force, and other security agencies under the Command to provide sufficient security in ensuring the execution of the orders of the Court dated 20th June, 2024”.
In contrast to the above, the legal unit of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA in a press statement released to this medium upon request to balance the story said the report is a deliberate attempt to misinform the public, tarnish the reputation of the council, and distort the true facts of the matter.
Below is the full text of the rejoinder issued by the Legal Unit of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA to debunk the above publication.
Rejoinder: Setting the Record Straight on the False and Malicious Report Regarding the Owode-Onirin Market
Our attention has been drawn to a malicious, misleading, and completely irresponsible report falsely alleging that Mayor Dele Oshinowo, the Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, led an attack on Mobile Police officers over a land dispute at Owode-Onirin Market. This report is a deliberate attempt to misinform the public, tarnish the reputation of the council, and distort the true facts of the matter.
The Owode-Onirin Market is a recognized local government market, and the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA holds official title documents to the land. As the duly elected Local Government Chairman, it is the responsibility of the Chairman to oversee all markets within our jurisdiction, and Owode-Onirin is no exception. Contrary to the misleading claims, the Council was never informed of any court judgment regarding the land until the very day that unknown individuals acting on the orders of a land grabber, Akeem Ariori, stormed the market, forcefully displacing peaceful traders, harassing and arresting them, and demolishing their shops without prior notice, consultation, or due process. The traders, who had lawfully occupied the market for years, were left in distress and called on the local council for help. From our investigations, it was discovered that the said Akeem Ariori is a well-known land grabber, who is infamous for criminal land grabbing activities in Lagos State.
Upon receiving the traders’ distress calls, the Executive Chairman along with key council officials, visited the site to assess the situation. However, upon arrival, the Council officials were ambushed, molested, and tear-gassed by these unidentified armed men, leading to the hospitalization of several council officials. An official report was immediately filed to the Lagos State Government, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (A.I.G) Zone 2, and the Attorney General, in line with due process.
Contrary to the false report, no thugs were mobilized by the Council at any point. Instead, upon recognizing the unrest, the Lagos State Government deployed officers from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by its Commander CSP. Shola Jejeloye, to restore peace and ensure the protection of lives and property. It is worth noting that when Council officials arrived at the scene, six individuals claiming to be Mobile Police officers were present. When asked to identify themselves, they could not provide proper authorization for their presence. Four of them were subsequently arrested, while two fled the scene. The arrested individuals were taken to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, where it was confirmed that they were not on an officially assigned duty. If they were truly acting lawfully, why did they flee? Why couldn’t they prove their legitimacy?
It is deeply unfortunate that some individuals, driven by selfish interests, are using the Press to spread falsehoods and manipulate public perception. The fact remains that Agboyi-Ketu LCDA has the rightful Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for this land, and no amount of propaganda can change that. The Council was never notified of any judgment, nor were we invited for any form of discussion before the market traders were forcefully displaced and their businesses destroyed. The report circulating in the media deliberately twists the situation, portraying those who acted unlawfully as victims while attempting to discredit the Council’s lawful intervention.
We remain committed to protecting the rights and interests of our people, ensuring that justice prevails, and upholding the rule of law at all times. Agboyi-Ketu LCDA will not be intimidated by falsehoods or bullied into surrendering public property to land grabbers. We urge the public to disregard this misleading report and remain assured that this administration will continue to serve with transparency, integrity, and unwavering dedication.
SIGNED:
Legal Unit
Agboyi-Ketu L.C.D.A
The incident happened in the Idene Owode Onirin area of Mile 13, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.