TheCable

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the arrest of Fredrick Nwajagu, the Eze of Ajao estate in Lagos, over an inciting statement he made in a viral video.

In the clip that surfaced on the internet on Friday, Nwajagu, who was dressed in his royal traditional regalia, could be heard saying Igbo indigenes in Lagos must recruit members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the safety of their properties.

Meanwhile, in the 2023 global terrorism index (GTI) ranking, which was released on March 15, IPOB was ranked as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world. 

“IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilize for that. We have to do that,” he had said.

“We must have our security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon. When they discover that we have our security before they come, they will know that we have our men there. I am not saying a single word to be hidden. I am not hiding my words; let my words go viral. Igbo must get their rights and get standing in Lagos state.”

Things took a new turn on Saturday when Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of Lagos police command, confirmed that Nwajagu has been arrested.

Hundeyin did not give details of the security agency that arrested him or how and when he was arrested, but he told TheCable that details of Nwajagu’s arrest will be released soon.

Meanwhile, in other reports, a police source had said that Nwajagu was arrested in a hotel located in the Ejigbo area of the state, noting that the chief had fled his palace after the officers of the state security service (DSS) arrived there. 

The source said Nwajagu was arrested at 1:00 am and he is currently in the custody of the state security service.