Policemen Look On As Alleged Land Grabbers Brutalise Journalist Covering Lagos Land Dispute, Victim Alleges Attorney Ali Hassan Supervised Assault

A journalist with The Guardian, Eniola Daniel, has accused suspected land grabbers, popularly known as Omo Onile, of brutally assaulting him while he was carrying out his constitutional duty as a reporter at Santos Estate, Akowonjo, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Daniel alleged that police officers present at the scene watched the attack without intervening.

Daniel, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Saturday, recounted how he was harassed, beaten until he bled, and threatened by the group while investigating the activities of alleged land grabbers in the area.

He specifically identified one Ali Hassan, who introduced himself as the attorney to the family of Ashafa Ogundare—described as the beneficiary of a court judgment in a 23-year-old land dispute currently being enforced—as being present throughout the assault but making no effort to stop it.

According to the journalist, the attack occurred despite the presence of police officers, who stood by and failed to intervene while he was being assaulted.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed Hassan surrounded by several men suspected to be thugs.

 In the footage, Hassan was seen dressed in a white cardigan over a white outfit with black jeans and holding a small bag tucked under his armpit as members of the group moved around the disputed area.

Narrating the incident, Daniel said he had visited Alimosho on Friday, July 31, to investigate reports of intimidation and disruption caused by suspected Omo Onile groups operating in the community.

He said, "Yesterday, July 31, I went to Alimosho Local Government Area. I moved around and spoke with residents of the area.

"I went around and witnessed how banks, shops, markets, and schools had been shut down because of the activities of thugs allegedly operating under the guise of Omo Onile. They were moving around the area, intimidating and harassing residents.

"After observing the situation, I spoke with one of the residents, Mr. Odumbakun. As I was leaving, I noticed a group of people heading into Santos Estate."

Daniel explained that he approached the group in his professional capacity as a journalist and introduced himself before engaging Hassan, who identified himself as the family's attorney.

"I introduced myself as a journalist. A man who identified himself as the attorney to the family of Ashafa Ogundare told me we should go together to inspect the section of the fence that was destroyed by people linked to the dispute.

"As we walked together, I explained to him that I had come to speak with him, and he agreed. I then began recording footage of the scene."

According to him, the situation quickly turned violent.

"Suddenly, one of his associates approached me and demanded that I stop recording. He physically assaulted me, striking me until I started bleeding.

"While the incident was unfolding, another member of the group punched me on my left hand and continued assaulting me."

Daniel explained that throughout the attack, Hassan neither intervened nor instructed his associates to stop.

"Throughout the assault, the man identified as Ali Hassan, who introduced himself as the attorney to the family, simply stood by and watched. He made no effort to stop the attack. In my view, he condoned or encouraged the assault."

The journalist further noted that another member of the group threatened him, boasting that they could kill him without consequences.

"While we were still there, another man, who appeared to be a subordinate of the person who attacked me, accused me of disrespecting his boss. He threatened that they could kill me there and that nothing would happen to them.

"Sadly, the attorney representing the family never said a word to stop the assault."

Daniel said he was eventually rescued from the tense situation after a resident urged him to leave immediately for his own safety.

"One of the residents eventually pleaded with me to leave the area, explaining that many people had also been harassed and that I should leave to avoid further attacks."

He expressed shock that police officers present throughout the incident  refused to intervene despite witnessing the assault.

"All of this happened in the presence of police officers. The police did not intervene at any point. They stood by and did nothing.

"The man behaved as though he was above the law.

"That was what happened. I woke up this morning in severe pain."

Asked to identify the individual he accused of supervising the assault, Daniel replied, "He is the man who identified himself as the attorney to the family."

He added that the family in question is "the family of Ashafa Ogundare, the alleged beneficiary of the court judgment in the 23-year-old land dispute that is now being enforced."

Reaffirming that he was targeted solely because of his work as a journalist, Daniel said, "Yes, exactly. I was harassed because I was carrying out my work as a journalist."

When asked whether the police took any action during the incident, he responded, "They did absolutely nothing."