By Omoniyi David
The Lagos State Police Command has refuted allegations that its officers backed thugs who disrupted an African Democratic Congress (ADC), gathering in Alimosho over the weekend.
Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who recently defected to the ADC had accused the police of supporting hoodlums to attack the event.
But in a statement on Sunday, Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, said the command had received no formal complaint of an attack from any party or individual.
“The Lagos State Police Command distances itself from insinuations linking it to party politics or political violence in Lagos State,” the statement read.
Oluseyi explained that joint police teams, including tactical squads and anti-riot units, were deployed across Alimosho and other parts of Lagos for crime prevention and public safety.
He stressed that officers acted professionally and non-partisan, providing adequate security to all parties.
“At no time were police officers from the Lagos State Police Command provided as cover for members of any political party to attack rivals, as claimed in the report,” he insisted.
Meanwhile, the ADC condemned what it described as a violent invasion by government-backed thugs who stormed the church venue of its meeting, leaving several people injured, vehicles destroyed, and property carted away.
In a strongly worded statement, the party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of desperation, warning that the incident reflects “the growing authoritarian temper” of the government.
“With this attack on a church, no one can predict how far this APC under President Tinubu is willing to go in its desperate quest to cling to power at all costs,” the party said, citing similar incidents in Edo, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.
The ADC also called on the Nigeria Police to uphold its loyalty to the constitution and the Nigerian people rather than the ruling party.
