Nigerians have descended on Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PRO) SP Benjamin Hundeyin, accusing him of bigotry in response to a tweet he made while providing an update on a reported fracas in a Lagos market, saying the trouble was caused by “Igbo traders” who reneged on an agreement reached by the market association.
Hundeyin, who is well-known for his frequent use of Twitter, responded to another tweep who posted about the incident, saying, “This is fake news. The market association agreed that shops would remain closed yesterday and today. Igbo traders this morning decided to renege on the agreement and open shops.
“Some hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. The police was alerted.
“The police arrived promptly. The hoodlums fled upon sighting police patrol vans. Not one shop was vandalized. Not one person was robbed. Not one person was injured. Normalcy was swiftly returned and officers remain on ground. Go and verify! SHUN FAKE NEWS!
Several Twitter users criticized Hundeyin’s post, accusing him of lack of professionalism and ethnic profiling.
Here are some reactions gathered by The Quest Times
@ViktorEdeh The only traders in the market are of the same tribe? They are all igbos? However, this your market association agreement story is not true. I had spoken with my friend who own shops at oshodi and oyingbo.
@kejay_prince How do you know they are all Igbo traders? Why not just say ‘some traders’? Are you not a policeman for Christ sake? They way you speak 99% of the time is worrisome!
@harryofido You could swiftly identify and tag the traders as Igbos but the hoodlums don’t have identity. Is this a lawless country where thugs now enforce laws now and they weren’t questioned or identified?? This ethnic bigotry is a national one
@Sasky_mali Naa this is bigotry. You are a force man but I won’t keep quiet about this one. Respected your tweets too long.
@iamKristil None of the hoodlums was arrested, you didn’t care to find out the tribes of the hoodlums, but the tribes of the traders who went out peacefully for their daily hustle was more important?? na wa ooh!!
@Papie_candieman ‘Igbo traders’ why didn’t you say but some traders?? Unprofessionalism at its peak
@_nsykak You’re quick to confirm that only “Igbo traders” opened shops today…but all the reported police complicity in the wanton desruption of elections at several locations across Lagos by hoodlums in Saturday’s elections didn’t come to your knowledge or cross your TL. Weldon!
@IamtheDami Lemao! Never knew hoodlums are now extension of the Nigerian police allowed to enforce compliance
@MrIzzymann “Igbo traders”? How do you know that they are all Igbos? Remove that mask Ben, the bigotry is beginning to unravel.
@Dann_10 “Hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance”…I never knew hoodlums were part of the association and where present when they agreed that the shops would remain closed. And you’re supposed to be a PRO for the NP, but had to insert or sound the ethnic dog-whistle