Controversy has erupted following remarks made by Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, the suspended Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, regarding alleged extrajudicial actions.
In a now-deleted post on social media, Ajetunmobi claimed that individuals who burned down Television Continental (TVC) during the #EndSARS protests in Lagos were “hunted and executed.” This comment has been widely interpreted as a potential admission of state-sponsored extrajudicial killings during the 2020 protests against police brutality.
Among Ajetunmobi’s claims was an account of a young cooking gas trader from Ketu, Lagos, allegedly found with an AK-47 at the TVC site and later executed. The deleted post read:
“The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images. One thing to note: the majority of them have been hunted down and executed.”
Following public backlash, Ajetunmobi refuted the claims, stating that the term “executed” was used in error and that his comments were misinterpreted. He explained:
“The word ‘executed’ was erroneously used and not intended in the context of that casual conversation. What was written reflected personal opinion, not the position of any authority or entity I work for.”
Despite the clarification, the Lagos State Government announced Ajetunmobi’s suspension. Gboyega Akosile, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, stated:
“The suspension comes on the heels of the misrepresentation of facts on his personal X account. The Sanwo-Olu administration frowns at any form of extrajudicial punishment and will not be part of any such action. That is not who we are.”
While some commended the suspension, others demanded a full investigation into Ajetunmobi’s statements. Human rights activist and lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, called for law enforcement to question the aide, stating:
“Suspending Wale Ajetunmobi does not address the alarming confession of extrajudicial killings. This matter must be thoroughly investigated by security agencies.”
Other commentators expressed similar sentiments:
@UnckleAyo: “He admitted to being in the know of extrajudicial killings. In a functional system, both his and his principal’s roles would be scrutinized.”
@Waxodigitals: “The claim raises critical questions. Was the statement factual or fabricated? Either way, an investigation is warranted.”
@DailyJusticeAct: “His confession is a major disclosure. A thorough investigation is necessary to uncover the truth.”
The incident has reignited debates about transparency and accountability in the Lagos State Government’s handling of the #EndSARS protests and the need for impartial investigations into claims of human rights abuses.
