Police in Lagos have released the 123 men who were intercepted in a truck with 48 motorcycles by the State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offenses Task Force.
The truck was seized at Agege area of the state on Friday following a tip-off by members of the public who raised security concern about the manner with which the occupants of the truck conducted themselves.
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The task force said the men were coming from Jigawa State.
The truck and its occupants were moved to the office of the taskforce in Oshodi for interrogation.
However, Lagos police spokesman, Bala Ikhana, said on Saturday that nothing incriminating was found on the men.
Mr Elkana said the suspicion and subsequent interception of the truck arose from the manner they came in, adding that most of them were living in Lagos and went homes for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
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Chairman of the taskforce, Yinka Egbeyemi, explained that the interception on Friday was a proactive step to protect the state against any external attack.
Lagos State Government had in a statement on Saturday said that the arrest of 123 men was a routine security check.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, affirmed the government’s commitment to the security and well being of law-abiding residents of the state.
The arrest was received with criticism on social media as it was seen as directed to people from the northern part of the country.
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However, Mr Omotoso said: “The Lagos State Government allayed the fears expressed, especially on the Social Media that the arrests were directed at a particular section of the country, stressing that this is the handiwork of mischief-makers.
“It must be emphasised that the checks and arrest made by men of the Lagos State Task Force, was a proactive step, against speculated cases of Boko haram insurgency and banditry attacks across the nation. The case on hand is purely a security matter which the Lagos Police Command is capable of handling professionally.”
