Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu suspends his aide Wale Ajetunmobi for making controversial statements about extrajudicial killings of arsonists linked to the 2020 TVC attack. The suspension follows Ajetunmobi's misrepresentation of facts on social media, sparking backlash over human rights concerns.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has taken action by suspending his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, after his post on X (formerly Twitter) stirred controversy. The post implied that several arsonists involved in the 2020 attack on Television Continental (TVC) were "hunted and executed" by the government, a statement that led to significant backlash.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gbenga Akosile, clarified the situation through a statement, confirming that Ajetunmobi's post misrepresented the official stance of the state government. He emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu administration does not condone any extrajudicial killings. "The Governor’s administration firmly rejects such actions, which are not part of our values," the statement read.
The controversy centered on Ajetunmobi’s comments regarding the 2020 incident, where TVC was set on fire during the #EndSARS protests. His post suggested that many of the individuals responsible for the arson had been executed, which he later tried to explain as a result of an armed confrontation between the arsonists and soldiers. However, there was no evidence to support such claims.
Ajetunmobi deleted his post following the backlash and attempted to clarify that there was no extrajudicial killing, but rather that some arsonists were allegedly killed during a gunfight. This claim conflicted with the official reports of the incident, particularly the tragic events at the Lekki Toll Gate, where soldiers used live ammunition against peaceful protesters a day before the TVC attack.
The incident adds to the ongoing concerns over extrajudicial killings in Nigeria, with several international human rights organizations documenting cases in recent years. The suspension of Ajetunmobi has brought further attention to the delicate balance between government actions and the need for accountability.
