- By Halimah Olamide
There was pandemonium late Thursday as policemen shot teargas canisters at mourners at the candlelight procession in honour of the late singer Oladimeji Ilerioluwa Aloba, poplarly called Mohbad.
The procession had taken off from Lekki Phase 1 and headed for Muri Okunola Park along the Ozumba Mbadiwe Road with many joining.
NPO Reported earlier that musicians Davido, Falz had joined the procession from Lekki Phase as mourners moved peacefully.
The procession was later joined by other artistes such as Zlatan, actor Cute Abiola and many others.
At the procession was also the wife of the late singer.
The procession took place on the same day the body of Mohbad was exhumed for autopsy in Ikorodu.
“Autopsy has been concluded. Awaiting result…,” the Lagos Police Command spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin wrote on his X handle late Thursday.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun had also ordered a thorough probe into Mohbad’s death with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State asking the Department of State Services (DSS) to join the investigation.
The Senate has also waded into the matter with Senator Elisha Abbo visiting the singer’s family in the Lekki area of Lagos State. He assured them of the government’s commitment to getting justice over the matter.
As at press time, the reason for the use of teargas on the mourners was unclear. Spokesman of the police command in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report. A message sent to him had not been responded to.
However, it was learnt that some policemen had spent some time asking participants to go home after all the speeches at the event. “Please, go home, if you love Mohbad, go home,” the policemen were heard pleading.
As the policemen fired the teargas canisters, many were seen running for their safety.
In the process, a lady who was hit by one of the canisters fell down and had to be helped by others. Her leg was badly injured with blood all over her body.
Many who could not stand the armful effect of the gas released were seen running into different streets while some others jumped into cars.
Before the pandemonium, some of the artistes had addressed the huge crowd that turned up for the procession.
One of Mohbad’s allies, Zlantan , went emotional as he made his speech at the event.