Lagos Police Speaks on Viral Video of Young Men Reportedly ‘Trooping In’ from the North to Ibeju-Lekki – Here’s What Really Happened
A video recently went viral on social media showing a large number of young men gathered in front of a company in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State. The clip sparked concern among many Nigerians, especially Lagos residents, who feared the sudden arrival of the men could be a security threat. The video quickly caught fire online, with different people giving different accounts of what was happening, leading to wild speculations and rising tension.
To calm the fears and clarify the situation, the Lagos State Police Command has now released an official statement addressing the issue. The police say there is no cause for alarm, and the young men were not invaders, criminals, or troublemakers as some feared.
According to a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police got wind of the viral video and took immediate action.
“Upon receipt of the information on May 14, 2025, officers from the command were immediately deployed to the location to ascertain the facts,” the statement read.
When officers arrived at the scene in Ibeju-Lekki, they began an on-the-spot investigation. Their findings revealed that the group of young men — eighty-nine (89) in total — had come all the way from Katsina State. But contrary to what many feared, these men weren’t loitering or planning anything illegal. They had actually been legitimately recruited to work as labourers at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki.
CSP Hundeyin explained further:
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the young men in question, eighty-nine (89) in number, had arrived from Katsina State and were recruited to work as labourers at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki.”
To confirm this claim, the police said that a contractor working with the Dangote Refinery appeared before them and admitted that he personally sourced the labourers from Katsina State. He clarified that they were brought to Lagos specifically for work and had no other agenda.
According to Hundeyin, the contractor’s explanation didn’t stand alone. It was also supported by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Dangote Refinery, who backed up the story and gave additional assurance that the workers had gone through necessary screening.
“The contractor working with the refinery appeared before the police and confirmed that he had personally sourced and brought the labourers from Katsina for legitimate employment purposes,” Hundeyin said.
“His statement was corroborated by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the refinery, who also affirmed that the labourers were verified and cleared for entry into the facility and would be residing in the facility.”
To ensure full transparency and public confidence, the police also took extra steps to thoroughly search all 89 individuals. According to the spokesperson, no incriminating items were found during the search. In addition, each person was able to properly identify themselves and provided their National Identification Numbers (NINs), which the officers then verified successfully.
CSP Hundeyin emphasized that nothing suspicious was found and the situation had been misinterpreted due to the viral nature of the video and the lack of proper context.
“The individuals were thoroughly searched, and no incriminating items were found in their possession. Furthermore, each person properly identified themselves and presented their National Identification Numbers (NINs), which were duly verified,” he said.
In response to the wave of panic caused by the video, the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, CP Olohundare Jimoh, also issued a message to the public. He encouraged Lagosians and Nigerians at large to avoid jumping to conclusions or spreading unverified information online, as doing so can cause unnecessary tension and fear.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, urges members of the public to remain calm and desist from spreading unverified or alarmist content that could create unnecessary tension or panic,” the statement said.
The Commissioner went on to reassure the public that the Lagos State Police Command is fully committed to maintaining peace and order across the state. He emphasized that the Command will continue to respond swiftly to all issues that affect public safety, just as they did in this case.
“He reiterated that the Command remains committed to maintaining law and order across Lagos State and will continue to respond promptly to all matters relating to public safety.”
