A video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by user Lere Olayinka — Aresa 1 has gone viral after the speaker urged Igbos living in Lagos to “rise” and prepare to defend themselves — language that many observers have called an incitement to violence. The post explicitly named Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Oba of Lagos as targets and tagged the Nigeria Police Force in a call for the security agencies to investigate.
The X post (video and caption) accuses unnamed actors of seeking to drive Igbos out of Lagos and urges mobilisation and violent retaliation if such actions begin.
The post also called on security agencies to act, with the poster writing that he “hope[s] the @PoliceNG and other security agencies are already on the trail.”
The clip has been republished across social platforms and prompted public backlash and calls for investigation. Past episodes of threatening online hashtags and calls for forced removal of groups in Lagos have drawn official condemnation and probes.
The Man in the video stated: “Fight to the last with the last blood. It’s better you people rise and stop this your nonsense. Igbos who live in Lagos, open your eyes — don’t sleep with your two eyes. And when somebody push you, push back. You people should come together now. When they are shouting ‘Igbos must go’, plan how you will defend yourself; plan how you will defend your property; plan how you will throw them inside lagoon.
First of all, when it start, go straight to Oba — throw him inside lagoon; burn down Lagos. If they start this nonsense, what is wrong with you? See me see trouble — we came to Lagos to build Lagos. Lagos is full of water: Odumegu Ojukwu, Louis Ojukwu, Ibru — all of them. After all, the first Oba of Lagos is from Benin; now you are coming to claim what you don’t have. Why are you claiming what you don’t have? You are claiming what you don’t have and you can’t give what you don’t have. Who say Lagos belong to you? Enough is enough. Stop waking the lion. Sleeping lion — stop calling out name. Dismantle all this nonsense you are sharing in social media, and warn your people. I’m calling the elders — elders rise up. You can’t be elders and this thing will be moving around. Who is Sanwo-Olu? Who is Sanwo-Olu? This an imbecile calling himself Sanwo-Olu — very wicked human being. Whatever you people do against Igbos will come back to you or hurt you; if he didn’t hurt you it will hurt your children or your generation. Ise, Ise, Ise.”
Reactions and context
The post has led to widespread reposts and commentary online. Many users called for the police and other security agencies to investigate the speaker for public incitement and threats. Nigerian authorities have in the past responded to online campaigns or threats that target ethnic groups in Lagos with public statements and probes.
What this could mean
Incitement to violence and calls for attacks against public figures or entire communities can attract criminal investigation under Nigerian law and prompt policing and intelligence responses. Several civic groups and commentators have urged calm and responsible reporting/sharing of such material while the relevant authorities verify and, if necessary, act.