Suspected Fake Task Force Operatives Fire Tear Gas Into Compound In Lagos, Activist Calls For Probe | Sahara Reporters
In a petition detailing the incident, Lameed alleged that one of the tear gas canisters was fired into his compound, while others were discharged along streets where traders and schools were located.
A human rights activist, Comrade Ibraheem Adekunle Lameed, has called for an investigation into an alleged invasion of Alimosho Road and Vincent Street in the Alimosho area of Lagos State by suspected fake police task force operatives who reportedly fired tear gas canisters indiscriminately.
Lameed, a member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), said the incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, when a group of men wearing police task force jackets arrived in a van and a mini-bus.
According to him, the men allegedly fired tear gas canisters repeatedly for about 30 to 40 minutes, creating panic among residents, traders and other people in the area.
In a petition detailing the incident, Lameed alleged that one of the tear gas canisters was fired into his compound, while others were discharged along streets where traders and schools were located.
He expressed concern over the potential danger posed by the operation to residents, schoolchildren, traders and other members of the public.
Lameed said he subsequently contacted the chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit Task Force, CSP Saheed Akerele, to establish whether the operation had been authorised.
According to the activist, Akerele told him that he had not deployed any of his personnel to carry out an operation to arrest commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders.
Lameed said the task force chairman promised to investigate the incident and get back to him but had yet to provide an update as of the time he wrote the petition that evening.
He further alleged that he made about 10 calls to Akerele between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to seek clarification but received neither an answer nor a return call.
The activist called on the task force chairman to clarify whether the men involved in the operation were fake operatives and explain what measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents.
“As the leader/manager of Taskforce, he needs to be responsive and dutiful,” Lameed said in his petition.
He also demanded an investigation into the alleged operation and called for measures to protect lives and property across Lagos State.
Lameed further urged the task force leadership to caution its personnel operating around Iyana-Ipaja, Dopemu and Pako, alleging that some operations involving the so-called “AJA TASKFORCE” had been characterised by excessive force and disregard for human dignity.
“The use of AJA TASKFORCE by his men is very brutal; they don’t respect human life/dignity,” he alleged.
He said he wanted an official response from the task force chairman to establish the identities of the men involved and determine whether they were acting under lawful authority.
However, efforts by SaharaReporters to reach the state police command for comments on the incident were unsuccessful.