LAGOS — The Lagos State Police Command has refuted claims circulating on social media that men, women, and a young boy were detained together in a single cell at the Maroko Police Station in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The allegations gained traction after a viral video was shared on X.com (formerly Twitter) by a user identified as Oyindamola, with the handle #dammiedammie35. In the video, a woman who identified herself as “Real Omo” alleged that she, along with other women, men, and children, had been crowded into a single cell at the Maroko Police Station after being picked up during a police raid in Lekki.
In the video, a voice could be heard expressing concern over the situation: “Men and women are together in the cell. See small pikin [child] with children. We don’t know what to do. You people should come to our aid, we are at the Maroko Police Station. We need help right now.”
The woman also shared her frustration about the circumstances of their arrest, explaining that they were detained while walking in the area. “Yesterday night, they picked us, they arrested us. They said we could not walk because they were raiding. How am I supposed to know they were raiding in Lekki? I’m a victim, please, this is real Omo. They said I’m going to prison, for walking in the night? This is too much for me to bear. Does this make sense?” she questioned.
The video also revealed the condition of the confinement, showing an open roof and some damaged parts of the walls.
In response, Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin took to X.com to debunk the allegations. He clarified that the individuals were not being held together in a cell but in a “holding area” where they were visible to officers on duty in the charge room. He further explained that once detainees are moved into the cells, they are properly separated by gender, and their phones are confiscated.
Hundeyin tweeted, “That is a holding area, where they are visible to officers on duty at the charge room (counter). Once they move into the cell proper, they are properly separated and they would not even have their phones with them.”
Additionally, the police shared a video showing five males and five females standing against a wall. In the footage, a police officer explained that these individuals were children found roaming the streets or who had run away from home. According to the officer, local residents brought them to the police station, and many of the children had already been reunited with their parents.
The officer further clarified that the individuals had been kept in an open area at the back of the charge room, not inside a regular cell. “These are children roaming around the streets, that ran away from their houses. The residents of Lekki brought them to the station, and most of them, their parents have come to take them over [sic],” the officer stated.
The incident has sparked debate on social media, with many users questioning police procedures regarding the treatment of detainees, especially minors. The Lagos State Police Command has called for calm and emphasized that it is investigating the matter to ensure compliance with proper detention protocols.
