…As Publicity Secretary Explains What Transpired
The executives of the MABRA Estate in Magodo, Lagos, have apologised to residents of the estate over the unfortunate incident that took place on Saturday, January 1, 2022, involving Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakkem Odumosu.
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the estate, the executives said, “The executives of MABRA will like to apologise to all residents, who were delayed in the traffic jam caused by the social visit of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, on the 1st of January, 2022, to our estate.
“At about 6pm yesterday evening, Mr. Odumosu entered our estate to attend a social event at the instance of one of our residents.
“It was quite a busy day in the estate yesterday, as many residents had ongoing social events. The estate security operatives on duty, having not had prior knowledge of Mr. Odumosu’s visit, and in a bid to assist him with directions to the house of his host, sought to ascertain the particular resident he was visiting.
“The commissioner interpreted this act as an insult on his person, and ordered the immediate arrest of all the security operatives on duty, even after gaining access into the estate to attend the party.
“A resident, who happened to be a widow, and was passing by with her three children was also ordered to be arrested alongside her three children by the Commissioner of Police. Her offence was that she tried to intervene to understand the situation.
“The executives, represented by the Vice-Chairman and the Publicity Secretary, after being briefed of the situation, proceeded to the party to apologise on behalf of the security operatives for any disrespect caused to the commissioner and plead for the release of the resident, her three children and the security operatives. These pleas fell on deaf ears.
“At this point, the executives, members of the Estate Security Committee, the Estate CSO and some residents had converge at the estate gate to plead with the commissioner on his way out, with the hope that his anger would have subsided after enjoying the party.
“To our amazement, the commissioner came down from the car on his way out, said he was insulted by our estate and further instructed that the remaining security operatives, who replaced the arrested ones should also be arrested.
“This resulted in the complete shutdown of the estate, as no one could go in or come out as our estate gate is automated and the operatives with the access token were all arrested with the token. This further resulted in the traffic jam that occurred on CMD Road for over four hours.
“Pleas from different angles was made to the commissioner, who refused to yield until about 11pm, when he finally gave in. The estate was finally able to bail the security operatives, who were already put in cell, the resident with her children who were put behind the counter at about 11:30pm.”
