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MC Olu-Omo: Curbing Agbero Influence In Lagos Politics
By Kola Bola
Can a woman have her honour intact without her adorable breasts? Will a pregnant woman ever be so generous to lend out her vagina before childbirth? Well, all the answers to these posers will come in the affirmative the day a certified impotent becomes a proud father and a blind is enthroned a king over those with their starry eyes intact.
Yet, this palpable anomaly is a norm in Lagos, and without active affiliations with the areaboys, louts and the merchants of mayhem politicians hardly grace the corridor of power in Lagos without untold harassment from the men whose bones have displaced the proficiency of their brains. They are rich, well connected and parade army of boys whose major occupation is to foment troubles in parks across the state; sometimes they also engage in land grabbing at a sumptuous price and are ever available to political patronages. In their own regards, they are princes of pandemonium. Funny enough they all enjoy police escorts like they are lily-livered, though it’s glaring to all that they are not weaklings. But like the ageless Yoruba adage says, ‘a man who kills with the sword would not love one near his own neck’, these purveyors of fracas are even afraid of their shadows. No wonder most of their ringleaders like their political lords have their children kept in overseas countries.
Lagos, the fifth largest economy in Africa, is the commercial nerve of Nigeria, aside being the former capital city of Nigeria, which makes it the most sought after destination for investors, tourists and those seeking greener pastures. Lagos glories on its sprawling population, and no doubt, transportation businesses in air, sea and land also thrive in the city. However, because of lack of comprehensive plan for road transportation especially by the government of the state until recent, the areaboys have bare their fangs on virtually all junctions and parks making money by the power of their feasts as against their brains. This has emerged Lagos a bespoke sobriquet as the notorious headquarters of Nigerian louts, called areaboys in Lagos parlance.
From Oshodi to Mushin, Ojuelegba, Obalende, Ojota, Ikorodu, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Ikeja, Ajah, Orile-Iganmu, Ijora, Jibowu, name them, these rich louts have divided the parks among themselves and violently making free money while government seems contented with the peanuts that come its way. Prior to the coming of the Bus Rapid Transportation (BRT) system by the Lagos State Government, one can imagine the depth of the depravity of these areaboys while the ‘molue’ and ‘danfo’ rule the Lagos roads unhindered.
Before, a stranger to Oshodi would do everything possible to avoid passing through the area particularly at night, because of the fear of being harassed, molested, raped or robbed. Street urchins and hoodlums take laws into their hands and because there is no traditional ruler in Oshodi, it is a place where every hoodlum fights to be recognized. The hoodlums are feared by transporters, traders, hawkers and market women. Their leaders are reputed to be on politicians’ payroll as they are used as thugs in political wars of settling grudges with political opponents. Even the police avoid them.
In early 1990s, Ugochukwu Dum Obiora, a notorious areaboy known as “Bomboy” took control of Oshodi. Bomboy employed the weapon of fear and violence to oppress and extort money from bus drivers and traders doing business in Oshodi. His style of money making which was akin to that of Bayo ‘Ogundare’ Success, who held sway in the Second Republic during the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and National Party of Nigeria (NPN) era. Bomboy soon became the toast of most politicians within and outside Oshodi, who saw him as a tool to rig elections, harass and intimidate their political opponents.
This, of course made the position of Oshodi leader (Olori) lucrative and the clamour to become Olori became a do-or-die affair. To make the situation worse, law enforcement agents romance these hoodlums and made them seems larger than life and above the law. So, they always get away with their crimes. But new gangs soon emerged within the rank and file.
Gangs like the 36 Kiniun (Lions) headed by Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as Olu-Omo, soon gained prominence. Diekot, headed by the late Wasiu Trailer, who migrated from Ibadan, also waxed strong.
There were several other popular subordinates like Sule Nayam popularly known as George Bush and Baba Fela. Bomboy later died due to a mysterious sore that he had on his legs, while Wasiu Trailer also died in similar way on his return from Saudi Arabia. After their death Talo held sway briefly as Olori, before he was humiliated by MC Olu-Omo of the 36 Kiniun gang. As it were, fracas continued among the gangs.
For those who have not forgotten Bayo Success and his inglorious role in the South West crisis that engulfed between UPN and NPN, the link between the politicians and these so-called street boys otherwise known as areaboys could be drawn without much stress. The politicians need votes and louts though many in numbers but more importantly have the violent endowment to intimidate and scare off voters where their candidates seem to have fewer supporters.
They freely use guns and other dangerous weapons, you see them among the high in town and even at government functions, having unrestricted hobnobs with who-is-who in the political circle.
Will Lagos one day do without the services of these lords of violence? Well, while one cannot foreclose such possibility, it is largely doubtful if such near utopian thought can fly in the nearest future. Far from being a prophet of doom.
Lagos politics renewed contacts with these dangerous boys countdown to 1999, and they have been hugely empowered with some allocations granted, which allows their gang leaders to freely relate with the wielders of political power in the state. A politician can only ignore them to the detriment of his political career.
What happened recently at the flag-off rally of the APC governorship candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, only served as a veritable ground to appraise the fact that the affinity between the politicians and the areaboys has gone way too deep to be severed overnight.
Taken for granted in the latest melee is the fact that the tenure of the NURTW Chairman in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, is fast winding up, succession in-fighting has been rocking the association in the last few years.
It would be recalled that sometime late last year, Kunle Poly, also mentioned as one of the principal actors of the latest crisis that has put the life of MC Olu-Omo on the line, narrowly escaped death though his Personal Assistant/Bodyguard was not that lucky as he paid the maximum price for his boss’ crime.
The source of income for these gangs is extortion; monies from politicians and political godfathers who use them as tools to destabilize the society and rig elections. They can go to any length to extort money from bus drivers and petty traders. Such humongous amount of money seamlessly generated has continued to cause problems within and outside the gangs.
Though the Lagos Police Command has declared Mustapha Adekunle, popularly as Tafa Seigo, wanted over the attack on MC Olu-Omo at the rally, many observers have noted that such measure may proffer no lasting solution to the pugnacious issue.
Despite the scathing remarks credited to Mr. Joe Igbokwe, spokesman for the APC in Lagos, threatening to ban the NURTW in Lagos, tensions still fly very high in the state.
Igbokwe said, “If there are sensible persons still left in NURTW Lagos chapter let them put their house in order now or risk proscription.”
He added that “Their (NURTW members) endless brigandage in Lagos can no longer be tolerated.”
However, when the rumoured death of MC Olu-Omo was spread around Lagos on Thursday, the police authorities quickly issued statement to debunk it, knowing full well the magnitude of chaos such information could cause in the state.
MC Olu-Omo, Kunle Poly, Talo Skibo, Tafa Seigo, Koko Zaria, Hamburger, Esi Oluwo, Owoseni, Nayam, Mamok among others are just few of these notorious guys, who had been illicitly made by their godfathers, and today with their retinues of foot soldiers across the state are powerful enough to bring down the whole state within few hours.
It will also be recalled that Esi Oluwo and Hamburger both from Oshodi are dead. Esi Oluwo died in 2015 when he defected to PDP, which led to APC loss in almost all elections in Oshodi. It was also gathered that a particular influential politician called Oluwo and bribed him to return to APC. The day he returned to APC, he was stabbed reportedly at an APC rally and he died, while Hamburger was killed at the Oshodi APC primaries in 2017. Some close aides of both Oluwo and Hamburger attested to the fact that MC Olu-Omo openly supervised the killings. MC Olu-Omo was declared wanted by the Police, but he withdrew from public arena, he later resurfaced, and started walking freely with MOPOL escorts.
During the Osun governorship election, a video went viral online showing MC Olu-Omo threatening the Senate President of Nigeria, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Before things get out of hands, would it be too odd to learn some lessons from the past nefarious activities of similarly powerful gangsters in the political history of Nigeria, especially the South West.
At the height of the widespread violence that greeted Western Region following the alleged massive rigging of the 1965 polls, history has it that “By November 1, 1965, a riot at Ekiti (a district under Ondo Province) resulted in the death of 15 people, while a fresh riot four days later caused the loss of 20 lives. Sixteen people were killed in Ijebu-Ode and Ondo areas on November 7, 1965. Houses and vehicles were set on fire and to travel within the Western Region and from other regions into the West was a menace because of thugs and gangsters who took law into their own hands while the Police failed to maintain law and order. There was tension and wanton destruction of human lives and properties.
“Nigerians looked to the Federal Government to step in to arrest the situation in the Region, but all pleas were to no avail. Meanwhile, the riots and killings continued and the NNDP Government of the Western Region imposed curfews in Mushin, Ikeja, Agege, Ajeromi and Awori districts. Yet, the disturbances continued and each day brought a new toll of rioting, arson, looting and murder. The crisis over the struggle for political power during the Western Regional elections of October 11, 1965 was the last straw that broke the camel’s back which really convinced the January Boys of their military putsch on the morning of January 15, 1966.”
Lagos can sure live without this sordid record in history if concerted efforts are made on time to control the influence of violent mongers, especially those who are politically exposed among them. With the magnitude of money, arms and charms in the hands of these ultra-modern thugs, the wreck can only be better imagined.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has stated that the ongoing terror acts in states that share borders with the South West are heightening fears over bandits’ incursion into Yorubaland.
In a release issued by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere stated that the repeated terrorists’ attacks in Kwara, Kogi and Niger states as well as recent kidnap incidents in Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states leave much to be desired.
It would be recalled that heavily armed bandits that invaded Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama local government area of Kwara State penultimate week killed nearly 200 people and abducted several others.
Same week, some other bandits carried out terror acts in neighbouring Kogi and Edo as well as Niger, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina States. On Thursday, bandits operated in Edo and Oyo States where they abducted innocent people including a junior secondary school girl at Challenge area of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.
According to Afenifere, “this is a very disturbing development as cases of abduction seem to be on the increase in Yorubaland.
Incidents that occurred in places like Ondo, Ibadan, Kaduna etc, took place in the metropolis. Meaning that terror acts are no longer confined to rustic settings where government presence is thin, if at all.
It would be recalled that masked men who forcibly took away a junior secondary school girl in Ibadan did so in the midst of the people just as the girl’s mother was dropping her at school at Challenge. Challenge area is on the upper end of Ring Road area of Ibadan on the way to Lagos. Meaning that the kidnapping spot was inside the town.
Abductions of school children and attacks on worshipping places like churches and mosques as well as markets were commonplace especially in the Northern parts of the country. Kwara had been added to the league.
Latest report indicated that bandits sent notices of attack on some communities in the same Kwara State. Thus, serial sacking of communities and villages which used to be in the North East and Middle Belt is now spreading.
In the light of the foregoing, Afenifere spokesman called on governors of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos as well as those of Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states to urgently come up with security arrangements that would enable their people to sleep with their two eyes closed.
Ajayi recalled that the six South West governors resolved at their meeting in Ibadan on November 24, 2025, to work on the security of the region.
They planned to, among others, establish South West Security Fund (SWSF) and perhaps monitoring centres for the purpose of tracking would-be terrorists. Only in the outgoing week, Ogun state government inaugurated close circuit television centres (CCTV) for the same purpose.
“It is however not debatable that banditry and terrorism are continuing not because there is no information on or about bandits and terrorists. Terrorism is becoming pervasive because even the information available is not being processed and used in the interest of the people. Rather, it, in many cases, even serve the interest of those who are clearly ‘the enemies of the people!’
For instance, the head of Woro village in Kaiama, Kwara State, Alhaji Umar Bio Salihu, said that a letter was written before his village was attacked. He promptly forwarded the letter to the higher authority. Yet, what happened still happened.
Also, as testified by various concerned individuals and groups, identities of bandits and some of their sponsors are not hidden. But those who were supposed to act in this respect have failed woefully. Rather than act in the interest of the people, they collude with the people’s enemies.
Ajayi cited the example of some states in the North, especially Katsina, which entered into ‘Peace Pact’ with bandits. Several reports have it that bandits still struck in many places despite signing Peace Agreements with governments and communities. Just as some prominent individuals decided to be ‘middlemen’ between bandits and governments.
“It is inconceivable that those with whom Agreements are being signed could not be identified. Thus, rather than dealing with them in line with the provision of the law, they are being pampered.
Besides, those who were saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the interest of the people chose to sabotage the people. Instances cited in this respect included the alleged sharing of money meant to procure arms for security agencies under former National Security Adviser, Colonel Dasuki (rtd) and the diversion of money meant for the same purpose by the former Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, who is presently facing trial in a Federal High Court in Abuja. He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was reported to have refunded some money and property as an admission of the allegation.
In conclusion, Ajayi was emphatic that “the problem therefore is not lack of information, but the will to use the information in the interest of the people. State Police should take off immediately while communities should also be enabled to have local security arrangements.
“It is high time governors in Yorubaland go beyond sermonization and swing into decisive actions that will really make the region a very secure place”, Afenifere spokesman counselled.
President Bola Tinubu has praised the Argungu International Fishing Festival, describing the 83-year-old cultural event as a symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence.
The President, who attended this year’s festival in Argungu, Kebbi State, on Saturday, said the event reflects the richness of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
“This festival has endured for 83 years, and it stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people,” Tinubu said.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities that lie in properly harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
Tinubu emphasized that adequate security is essential for cultural events of such magnitude to thrive and attract tourists. He attributed the success of this year’s festival to improved security in Kebbi State and other parts of the country.
“A socio-cultural event like this can only thrive and become a tourism attraction where the security atmosphere is conducive. I am pleased to note that significant progress has been made in combating insecurity across Kebbi and other parts of our nation.
“We are still working very hard through coordinated efforts between the Federal Government, state governments, and security agencies,” he said.
According to the President, the relative peace currently being experienced in the region is the result of deliberate efforts.
“The peace we are witnessing today in this region is not accidental; it is the outcome of intelligence gathering and community engagement,” he added.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that the fight against insecurity, including banditry and insurgency, would be won, stressing that farmers, fishermen, traders, and families would continue to go about their activities without fear.
The Argungu Fishing Festival marks the beginning of the fishing season in Argungu, a riverside town in Kebbi State. Celebrated annually between February and March, the festival attracts fishermen from within and outside the state, who compete for the largest catch.
This year’s winning fish weighed 59 kilograms and was caught by Abubakar Usman from Mayama in Kebbi State. The second-place catch weighed 40 kilograms and was secured by Abdullahi Garba from Argungu, while Danlanso Dangani from Jega and Dogo Dauda recorded joint third place with fish weighing 33 kilograms each.
Other dignitaries present at the event included the host governor, Nasir Idris, as well as the governors of Imo, Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, among others.
The House of Representatives has announced that it will reconvene for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to consider matters arising from the recent release of the 2027 General Election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the House spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi.
He explained that members were notified through an internal memorandum issued by the Office of the Speaker late Friday, highlighting the constitutional and national importance of the development and the need for timely legislative attention.
The statement emphasized that the emergency sitting demonstrates the House’s resolve to respond promptly to issues with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democratic process.
Deliberations are expected to focus on legislative matters related to INEC’s announcement, in line with the constitutional duties of the National Assembly.
“All legislative business relating to the matter is expected to be addressed expeditiously,” the statement said. “Honourable Members have been strongly advised to prioritise attendance, given the importance of the issues under consideration.”
The House reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions through responsive and responsible lawmaking, ensuring that all actions are in the best interest of Nigerians.
INEC had on Friday announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 20, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly polls will be held on March 6, 2027.
The commission also fixed party primaries between May 22 and June 20, 2026, for the nomination of candidates.
However, concerns have arisen from some Nigerians, especially Muslims, over the date of the general election, as they noted it falls within the holy month of Ramadan. They emphasised that the physical demands of fasting may impact voter turnout, logistical, observers and electoral officers’ efficiency.
Notable among the voices is former vice president and a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who urged the commission to reconsider the February 20, 2027 date, citing concerns over its overlap with the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, the Commission has addressed the concerns over the timetable, particularly regarding the dates fixed for the conduct of the elections.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC said the timetable was developed in strict compliance with the timelines contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022.
Haruna stated that the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, in effect since 2019, fixed the dates elections are to be held.
However, he stressed that, in view of the developments, “the Commission is currently undertaking consultations and may, where necessary, seek appropriate legislative intervention to address the concerns raised, while ensuring that any adjustment remains consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements.
“INEC reiterates its unwavering commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and the credible conduct of the 2027 General Election. The public will be duly informed of any further developments.”
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