Following allegations made by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour during an interview on ARISE News Television on the morning of September 7, 2025, accusing the Nigerian Police of colluding with political thugs, the Lagos State Police Command has issued an official statement refuting the claims. The full press release, signed by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, is reproduced below:
RE: “The Nigerian Police in Collaboration with APC Thugs Working Towards Creating a One-Party State” – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour
The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a media interview on ARISE NEWS TELEVISION during the program “The Morning Show” today, 7th September, 2025, between 8am and 9am, where one Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour made unfounded allegations, accusing “The Nigerian Police in Collaboration with APC Thugs Working Towards Creating a One-Party State.”
It is pertinent to once again set the record straight and inform members of the public that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, directed the deployment of joint police teams consisting of conventional police personnel, Tactical Squads, and the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to patrol the entire area of Alimosho LGA and other parts of Lagos State. This was solely to ensure law and order, protect citizens, and guarantee public safety, and not for any political interest or in collaboration with APC thugs, as wickedly alleged by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
From police records, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alimosho Federal Constituency duly informed the Lagos State Police Command of a program tagged “ALIMOSHO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY SENSITIZATION EXERCISE ON CONTINUOUS VOTERS REGISTRATION,” which was peacefully held on Saturday, 6th September, 2025, for their members and followers at Lion Field, off Kokumo Road by Moshalashi Roundabout, Iyana-Ipaja. Police personnel were deployed for the protection and safety of attendees, and the event ended without incident.
The Lagos State Police Command wishes to categorically state that the Command was not informed of any other political rally or gathering by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in any part of Alimosho on the same date. It is equally factual to state that no letter of notification or request for police protection was received from him regarding any political rally.
However, at about 12:30hrs on Saturday, 6th September, 2025, distress calls were received from members of the public reporting pandemonium and disorder inside the Christ Gospel Mission International Campground, causing worshippers attending a special Holy Prayer program to run helter-skelter for safety. To protect the church, worshippers, and other innocent members of the public, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, personally led joint police intervention teams to the campground.
Lagos State Police Condemn Unauthorized Political Rally at Church, Reaffirm Neutrality and Public Safety Mandate
On arrival, it was discovered, based on accounts from worshippers, that a political rally was being forcefully held inside the religious premises without the approval or authorization of the church. The Commissioner of Police and his team promptly restored normalcy and advised members of the church to remain calm while adequate police personnel were deployed in and around the premises to protect worshippers and maintain order. At no time was a Deputy Commissioner posted to act as a gateman at the campground, as ridiculously alleged by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour during his interview on ARISE TV.
There were no coaster buses observed damaged within the holy premises or along the road leading to the campground throughout the period the Commissioner of Police was present.
It is incumbent on the Lagos State Police Command to educate Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour that places of worship such as churches, mosques, and holy centers are sacred and not meant for political rallies or declarations of political support. His desperate political intrusion into the Christ Gospel Mission International Campground on Saturday, 6th September, 2025 while worshippers were engaged in prayers was a sacrilegious act, capable of endangering lives and jeopardizing public safety. Such conduct is likely to cause a breach of the peace and attract criminal liabilities.
It is also important to state that for more than 30 hours, going into two days after the purported incident, no complaint or formal report of the allegations made by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has been lodged at any police station in Alimosho or any other formation throughout Lagos State. Claims of damage to coaster buses and injuries to supporters were only heard from him during the interview and have not been brought to the attention of the police in the state.
The Lagos State Police Command will continue to remain neutral, apolitical, and non-partisan, while being strict and firm in the enforcement of law and order and in the protection of lives and property, as mandated by the Police Act and Regulations. The Command remains committed to the safety of all Lagosians and will resist any mischief or blackmail aimed at dragging the Police into partisan politics.
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