A viral video from 2022 showing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in a heated confrontation with police officers at Magodo Phase 2 Estate has resurfaced online, reigniting debates about gubernatorial authority and security agency operations in Nigeria.
The Tense Magodo Estate Confrontation
The footage obtained by Premium Times captures Governor Sanwo-Olu ordering the evacuation of armed police officers who had laid siege to the upscale residential estate. The incident occurred amid residents' protests over a prolonged land dispute that has plagued the community for years.
In the video, Governor Sanwo-Olu is seen directly confronting the police team leader, identified as a Chief Superintendent of Police, demanding that he contact his superiors in Abuja immediately. The governor emphatically declared himself as the chief security officer of the state and instructed the officer to inform his commanders that they had no business operating in Lagos without his authorization.
Police Defiance and Constitutional Questions
The police officer responded that he was acting under strict orders from the Inspector General of Police through the Attorney General of the Federation. "I'm too small or too low to call them, your excellency, with due respect, you can call them directly, Sir," the officer told the governor, creating a standoff that highlighted the complex power dynamics between state and federal security apparatus.
Governor Sanwo-Olu countered that he had already spoken with the Attorney General earlier that day, who had denied knowledge of the police deployment. The governor described the operation as illegal and questioned why the Chief Superintendent of Police remained unaware of the situation unfolding in his jurisdiction.
When pressed about the number of officers deployed to the estate, the police officer declined to disclose the figure, citing "security purposes" as his reason for withholding the information.
Background of the Magodo Land Crisis
The confrontation followed earlier unrest in 2021 when dozens of police officers and members of the Shangisha Landlord Association invaded Magodo Phase 2 Estate to enforce a court judgment. Witnesses reported that the group arrived with bulldozers in an attempt to demolish properties within the estate, escalating tensions in the affluent neighborhood.
The recent resurfacing of the 2022 video comes amid similar controversies, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike's recent clash with soldiers in Abuja over another land dispute. These incidents have sparked national conversations about the limits of state authority versus federal control in security matters.
The Magodo incident particularly raises crucial questions about:
- The constitutional authority of state governors as chief security officers
- The coordination between state and federal security agencies
- The role of police in civil land disputes
- The protection of citizens' rights during security operations
Residents of Magodo Phase 2 had protested the continuous presence of armed police officers, which had led to the closure of estate gates, disrupting traffic and preventing residents and business owners from accessing their properties and workplaces.
The video's resurgence has prompted renewed scrutiny of how land disputes are handled in Nigeria and the appropriate use of security forces in civil matters, with many calling for clearer protocols to prevent such confrontations between state and federal authorities in the future.
