Lagos Police Address Public Concern Over Arrest of Teen from 2023 Obi Convoy Video

The Lagos State Police Command has clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest and remand of Alabi Quadri, the teenager who gained national attention during the 2023 presidential election for standing in front of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi’s convoy.

In a statement issued Saturday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the command said Quadri’s arrest was based on his alleged involvement in a violent clash in the Amukoko area of Lagos in January. The statement, signed by police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, emphasized that the arrest had nothing to do with his prior political symbolism.

According to Hundeyin, the clash on January 22 escalated into chaos, with multiple injuries, destruction of property, and reports of robbery involving innocent bystanders. “The Lagos State Police Command is aware of the public discourse surrounding the remand of Alabi Quadri,” the statement began. “On the said day, groups of youths engaged in a violent confrontation that spiraled into a full-blown street fight, resulting in injuries, damage to both public and private property, and incidents of robbery.”

The police said they launched an immediate investigation and received helpful leads from community members, including eyewitnesses and victims. Based on their findings, five suspects — including Quadri — were arrested and charged to court. The court subsequently ordered their remand in a correctional facility pending trial.

“Police actions in this case were guided strictly by due process,” Hundeyin stated, adding that the command remained open to engaging with the public for clarity.

However, the case took a dramatic turn when legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) found no evidence linking Quadri to the robbery. He was released last Thursday by a Magistrate Court sitting in Apapa.

Quadri’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has called the entire episode a “diabolical frame-up.” Speaking to the press, Effiong alleged that two local enforcers known in the community as Lege and Baba Waris kidnapped Quadri near his home and handed him over to the police under false pretenses. “They falsely accused him of participating in a street fight,” he said.

Effiong further claimed that Quadri’s previous association with Peter Obi had put a target on his back. “Since 2023, after he received donations from Obi supporters, some individuals in the community began threatening him,” the lawyer said.

The situation escalated to the point where the boy’s family was reportedly pressured by local leaders to “make peace” by buying a cow and hosting a feast.

Curiously, despite the incident being initially reported as a street fight, Quadri was charged with armed robbery on January 26 and detained with four adults he had never met. His lawyer also pointed out that Quadri’s age was wrongly recorded as 18, raising further concerns about procedural lapses.

Now that he’s been cleared, human rights advocates and legal observers are calling for a review of the process that led to his incarceration.

“The command reiterates its commitment to justice,” the police said, urging the public to allow the judiciary to conclude its process and maintain peace.