Lagos witnessed a tense and chaotic scene as members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Staff Cooperative were caught in a confrontation with men believed to be plainclothes police officers. The clash, which unfolded in broad daylight, centered around a disputed property whose ownership remains unresolved.
Eyewitness footage that surfaced on Facebook showed both groups locked in a shouting match that quickly escalated into physical aggression. The video, which has gone viral, revealed the intensity of the altercation, with NNPC staff accusing the supposed officers of trying to unlawfully take over the property. Loud voices rang out as the cooperative members called the individuals “thieves” and demanded that they identify themselves and prove they were indeed members of the police force.
One of the cooperative members insisted that he was only protecting NNPC’s interest, stating, “My responsibility is to guard the property of NNPC Cooperators here.” His statement was met with a sharp response from one of the men believed to be an officer, who appeared visibly agitated. “Oh, you’re calling policemen thieves? You even attempted to slap me. We shall see,” he retorted.
As tensions rose, several individuals were seen trying to force open the property’s entrance, raising concerns among bystanders about the situation spiraling out of control. The standoff, which drew attention from nearby residents, highlighted growing unease over the unresolved nature of the property’s legal status.
Attempts to contact the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, for clarification and an official statement proved unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The silence from authorities has only deepened the mystery surrounding the incident.
This shocking face-off has sparked a wave of concern and conversation across social media, with many Nigerians questioning the rising number of property disputes and the blurred lines between law enforcement and civil authority. The full story behind the ownership of the contested building and the true identity of the men involved remains a developing issue.
