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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has said he narrowly escaped what he described as a mob incident at Ladipo Market in Lagos State.
In a video posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday, Igbokwe said the incident occurred on Friday during a visit to the popular auto parts hub, Ladipo Market, where he went to purchase spare parts for his vehicle.
He said he was identified shortly after arriving at the market, which led to a growing crowd gathering around his vehicle and escalating tension in the area.
“I went to Ladipo Market yesterday to buy some spare parts. People recognised me and started calling my name,” he said.
According to him, the gathering quickly intensified as more people converged, forcing him to seek temporary safety inside a nearby shop.
“Before I knew it, the crowd became too much. I had to enter a friend’s shop to stay safe,” he added.
Igbokwe said market leaders later intervened to calm the situation and helped him leave the area safely.
“The leaders in the market came in and helped calm the situation. I was able to leave without any problem,” he said.
He also dismissed social media reports alleging that he was physically assaulted during the incident.
“Nobody beat me. Those stories online are not true. I left there safely,” he insisted.
Beyond the incident, Igbokwe remains a polarising figure in Nigeria’s political discourse, often drawing criticism over his comments on sensitive national issues.
He has faced backlash in the past over his remarks on separatist agitation in the South-East, particularly concerning the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
He was also recently reported to have alleged that the rise in banditry and kidnappings in parts of the country was politically orchestrated to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration and make him unelectable.
The comments triggered widespread criticism, with opponents accusing him of downplaying the suffering of victims and their families.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from market authorities or the police regarding Friday’s incident.
