The police on Friday said the 89 young men seen in a viral video around Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos pose no danger as they are newly recruited workers of the Dangote Refinery.
NPO Reports that tension rose after residents sighted the 89 young men who appeared in the area raising fears of insecurity.
The apprehension was said to have been fuelled by fears of many insurgents from the Northern part of the country infiltrating different parts of the country.
NPO Reports that such fears had caused the killing of some Northerners who claimed to be hunters in Rivers state who were returning to Kano two months ago.
According to the spokesman of the Police command in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, the 89 men had been profiled and found to be newly recruited from Katsina state.
“The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on social media showing a large number of young men who had reportedly just arrived in Lagos, seen gathered in front of the Dano Company premises in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.
“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, eighty-nine (89) in number, had arrived from Katsina State and were recruited to work as labourers at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki,” the police stated
He added that a contractor working with the refinery was also summoned before the police, adding the contractor confirmed that he had personally sourced and brought the labourers from Katsina for legitimate employment purposes.
“His statement was corroborated by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the refinery, who also affirmed that the labourers were verified and cleared for entry into the facility and would be residing in the facility.
“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.” he said
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, was also quoted to have warmed against “spreading unverified or alarmist content”
He said such actions could create unnecessary tension or panic.
Lagos residents have of recent raised alarm over persistent influx of young men from the North many of them accompanying trucks conveying food items into the state.
Some residents have called for profiling of such youths in order to ascertain their status.