Calls for the removal of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police over the tragic Owode Onirin incident are not only premature, but fundamentally unfair, misleading, and dangerous to public order.
First, the facts are clear.
The Owode Onirin crisis did not begin as a police assault on traders.
It stemmed from a long-running dispute involving the illegal demolition of market structures by a suspected land grabber, widely identified as Mr. Ariyori.
The Lagos CP, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, personally visited the market, addressed the traders directly, and gave detailed assurances that justice would be pursued transparently.
He confirmed that the demolition was not carried out by the Lagos State Government but by a private actor now arrested and under investigation.
More importantly, the police officers accused of escorting the land grabber were not from the Lagos Command. CP Jimoh disclosed that they were drafted from outside Lagos in violation of police directives, and have since been transferred to the Force CID for disciplinary action.
This alone destroys the logic behind blaming the Lagos CP for an operation outside his control.
What the Lagos Command did in the aftermath was restore calm, prevent further bloodshed, secure the area, and arrest key suspects.
That is the constitutional duty of a responsible police leadership.
Removing a CP who acted swiftly to stabilise a volatile situation would reward misinformation and punish professionalism.
Historically, Lagos has suffered deeply from politically weaponised unrest, where criminal opportunists often hide behind civil agitation. A security leadership that responds with restraint, investigation, and community engagement should be supported, not sabotaged.
CP Jimoh has maintained consistent dialogue with traders since the August tragedy and increased security deployment around the market to ensure business continuity.
The National Patriots have rightly commended the Lagos CP’s peace-building approach.
The attempt by a human rights group to demand his removal, despite these established facts, raises serious questions.
Either they are uninformed, or they are pursuing an alternative agenda aimed at undermining public confidence in the Lagos Police Command.
Headlinenews.news Crime Watch also notes that proactive policing, hotspot raids, rapid response, and community-based interventions under the current CP have significantly improved security outcomes across key areas of Lagos.
It is not credible to scapegoat one of the most effective CPs Lagos has had in recent years because of an incident already under active investigation.
Nigeria must stop the culture of impulsive blame and media-driven lynching of public officers doing their jobs properly.
Justice for the nine deceased traders must be pursued fully, but accountability must be directed at the true culprits, not those working to restore peace.
The call for the removal of CP Jimoh should therefore be ignored. Lagos needs stability, professionalism, and factual judgment, not mischief and sensationalism.
Justice, Not Agenda: National Patriots Reject Unfair Calls to Remove Lagos CP.
The National Patriots strongly condemn the misguided call for the removal of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, over the Owode Onirin tragedy.
The CP acted promptly and professionally to restore order, reassure traders, and ensure the arrest of those responsible, including external officers unlawfully involved.
Groups must not allow themselves to be used by actors driven by personal interests or hidden agendas. Lagos deserves stability, justice, and factual accountability—not mischief or scapegoating.
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR.
Headlinenews.news Special report.
