Lekki Unrest: Police Apprehend Nine Suspects After Viral Machete Video

​LAGOS – Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested nine suspected hoodlums following a viral video that captured a group of young men wielding machetes and causing panic in the Lekki area of the state.

​Among those taken into custody was an individual captured in a Chelsea Football Club jersey, whose image has since sparked debate on social media regarding his identification. The arrests followed a “rapid investigation” and a targeted sting operation conducted on Friday between the Chisco and Osapa bus stops along the Lekki corridor.

​The Viral Incident

​The unrest gained public attention after footage shared on social media by a concerned resident showed armed youths running across a dual carriageway, disrupting traffic and forcing pedestrians to flee. The brazen display of weapons in broad daylight prompted an immediate outcry from residents over the deteriorating security situation in one of Lagos’s primary commercial and residential hubs.

​Responding to the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the police intervention via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. He noted that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, personally oversaw the operation to identify and neutralize the threat posed by the group.

​Jersey Identification Sparks Debate

​A photo released following the sting operation showed the suspects in custody, with one prominently dressed in the blue home kit of Chelsea F.C. While the attire led to the suspect being dubbed a “Chelsea fan” in initial reports, the categorization has met with some skepticism from the public, with many arguing that the choice of clothing does not necessarily indicate a formal affiliation with the football club’s local fan base.

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​Police Assurance

​The Lagos State Police Command has urged residents to remain calm, maintaining that the situation is firmly under control. CP Fatai assured law-abiding citizens that the command remains resolute in its commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that no form of hooliganism or public disturbance would be tolerated under his watch.

​The nine suspects are currently being processed for further investigation and are expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of the inquiry.