Youths protest Mohbad’s death, demand justice 

Youths protest Mohbad’s death, demand justice

Onozure Dania, Damilola Olufemi, Olumide Taiwo, Gbenga Oloniniran and Johnson Idowu
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The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said the force will look into the petition made by the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, against music promoter, Samson Balogun, aka Sam Larry.

A petition written by the late Mohbad over an alleged threat to life by Sam Larry and others surfaced online days after the singer’s death.

The petition alleged that Sam Larry and 15 others stormed a video shoot where Mohbad and another artiste, Zlatan Ibile, were working and unleashed violence.Sharing a copy of the petition on his X page on Tuesday, the FPRO tweeted, “We will look into the alleged police negligence on this case.”

The Lagos Annex, Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2, Alagbon, to whom the letter was addressed, had revealed that it had invited Sam Larry and others, following the receipt of the June 27 petition, but Mohbad was absent.

Commenting on this claim, Adejobi added, “We also need to know why he declined the invitation or appearance at the office. There are many things to find out and clarify. And all will be done.”

Recall that Mohbad, a former singer on Marlian Records owned by Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, died last week Tuesday at the age of 27 under questionable circumstances, with many people calling for thorough investigation and inquest into his untimely exit.

Meanwhile, traffic in the early morning of Tuesday within Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, suffered some disruptions as hundreds of youths filed out to protest and demand justice over Mohbad’s sudden death.

The youths who wore black T-shirts began their peaceful protest from Panseke and went to Oke-Ilwo, Isale-Igbehin, Sapon to Ake with placards bearing various inscriptions such as: ‘Justice for Mohbad’, ‘Government must arrest Naira Marley and Sam Larry’, ‘Who killed Mohbad?’, ‘No more Marlian’, ‘Too young to go at 27’, among others.

The protesting youths, while speaking with newsmen, insisted that the Nigeria Police must bring the duo of Marley and Larry to book.

They also demanded that other persons mentioned in the death of the singer be duly invited for questioning.

“We are here to give him last respect. At the same time, we are here to make sure justice is being served because we really want to know what’s behind his death because we are not expecting him to leave so soon,” one of the protesting youths said.

Another protester, Ibunkun Adedayo, urged the government to launch an investigation and explain what happened to the music star to Nigerians.

“We are expecting a lot from the government, from the family and from the fans and people who chose to say ‘I love Mohbad, I love Mohbad, I love his song.’ So, what I’m expecting now is that I want everybody to actually have a clearer picture of what really happened to Mohbad,” Adedayo added.

On his part, Ayo Micheal said, “We are in pain!! Mohbad must not die in vain. We want the government to arrest Naira Marley and Sam Larry. Let them fish them out from their hiding places.”

The youths dared Naira Marley and Sam Larry to come out of their hiding and face the Nigerian youths.

The Nigeria police force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other sister organisations were visible on the ground to ensure that the protest was not hijacked.

Youths also gathered in Akure, the Ondo State capital and Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as they rallied to demand justice for the late singer.

In Akure, some youths who wore black shirts to mourn the deceased moved from streets to streets, while those in Ado Ekiti were seen at the Fuji Pavilion area holding candles and demanding justice.

“We started the movement from Midas Hotel Junction, Adebayo and ended it at Fajuyi Pavillion, Ado Ekiti,” one of the protesters, identified simply as Aare told one of our correspondents.

In another development, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has invited the Department of Security Services to join in investigating the circumstance that led to the death of singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

This was contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Tuesday.

The state governor also commiserated with the family and fans of the former Marlian Records signee.

“We feel the pains of losing such a talented and promising young man, who made a name for himself in a highly competitive industry. May the Almighty grant his soul rest and comfort his bereaved family and fans,” the statement reads.

In addition to the police special investigative team in Lagos to probe the death of Mohbad, “Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has invited the DSS to join the investigation and widen the dragnet with inter-agency collaboration and use of best-in-class technology to unearth the truth.

“Mr Sanwo-Olu has directed that those who may have played any role whatsoever in any event leading to the death of MohBad be made to face the law after a thorough investigation.

“Consequently, the DSS has also joined the investigation so as to get justice for the youngster, his family and teeming fans,” it added.

In a related development, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has written the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, demanding a coroner’s inquest into the death of the late popular musician.

Falana made the demand following the death of the musician, who died on September 12, 2023, and was buried the next day.

The senior lawyer’s request for a coroner inquest was contained in a letter to the Chief Coroner, High Court of Lagos State in Ikeja.

Credit: Punch Newspaper