By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Lagos State Police Command has allayed the fear of residents in the state about the sudden arrival of 89 young men in Ibeju-Lekki area of the commercial capital of the country.
The command dismissed speculations making the rounds that the men whose arrival was captured in a viral video are insurgents infiltrating the state.
According to the command, the individuals are legitimate workers recruited from Katsina State for employment at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, adding that this fact has been confirmed by its officials
The assurance is contained in a statement issued, on Friday, by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer and posted on X
The Command stated: “Upon receipt of the information on May 14, 2025, officers from the Command immediately deployed to the location to ascertain the facts.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the young men in question, 89 in number, had arrived from Katsina State and were recruited to work as labourers at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki.”
The contractor responsible for their recruitment and the refinery’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) both confirmed the arrangement, noting that the men had been cleared to reside and work within the facility.
“The contractor working with the refinery appeared before the police and confirmed that he had personally sourced and brought the labourers from Katsina for legitimate employment purposes,” the statement added.
The Police Command also assured the public that all necessary checks were conducted on the group.
“The individuals were thoroughly searched, and no incriminating items were found in their possession.
“Furthermore, each person properly identified themselves and presented their National Identification Numbers (NINs), which were duly verified,” Hundeyin said.
“The Command remains committed to maintaining law and order across Lagos State and will continue to respond promptly to all matters relating to public safety,” the Commissioner added.
The police advised residents to avoid spreading alarmist content, emphasising the importance of verifying information before sharing.
