- Safiu Kehinde
The management of Ilorin-based shopping mall, Emirate Mall, has explained reason behind denying a man and his disabled daughter entry to the mall.
NPO Reported that the mall had yesterday came under fire following a viral video of its staff allegedly denying the man entry over his daughter’s disability.
As captured in the video shared on X on Tuesday, the man identified as yet-to-be identified man could be seen challenging the staff of the mall with the child who appeared to be suffering from growth deficiency.
The visibly enraged father alleged that he was bounced out alongside his baby by the mall security officials.
Confirming the incident to NPO Reports correspondent in a telephone call, a member of the mall’s management team who pleaded anonymity claimed the mall had on account of the huge crowd placed a limit on the number of times a customer can enter into the mall.
According to the official who spoke to NPO Reports in Yoruba, the man had made attempt to enter again after exceeding the limit which led to the security operatives denying him access.
“You know this is festive season. The mall was heavily filed up to a point some glasses were broken. Customers were instructed to queue so they can entre in batches.
“Though I wasn’t around when the incident occured, I saw the video this morning.
“I learnt the man was allowed in at first to his shopping which did and left. He however made another attempt to enter again and that was when he was denied entry.
“The crowd was too much and there were even complaints from the customers.” The official said.
Though the aggrieved father later disclosed that they were allowed in following the Chief Security Officer’s (CSO) intervention, the incident had however sparked outrage among netizens who condemned the officials of the mall while demanding legal action against the management.