8A fresh controversy has trailed the Lagos State Government after Kunle Fagbemi, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was accused of verbally harassing journalists covering an official event at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Saturday.
The incident reportedly unfolded during a major empowerment programme organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, a project championed by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The event was designed to empower 1,000 women across Lagos State.According to eyewitnesses, tension began when Fagbemi stopped the designated media bus conveying members of the governor’s official press crew to the venue.
Without any provocation, he allegedly accused the journalists of being “disruptive” and “unprofessional,” sparking confusion among the gathered crowd.
Several reporters recounted that the CSO hurled abusive words at them, creating a humiliating spectacle in the presence of dignitaries, security operatives, and members of the public who had gathered for the high-profile programme.
Attempts by some journalists to de-escalate the situation were unsuccessful, as Fagbemi was said to have doubled down on his accusations, insisting that the press crew had acted beyond their boundaries within the Lagos State Government premises.
Although the confrontation did not turn physical, members of the press expressed deep concerns about their safety and what they described as a worrying trend of intimidation against journalists covering government functions in the state.
“This is unacceptable,” one of the affected reporters, who declined to be named, lamented. “We were only carrying out our professional duties, yet we were subjected to hostility from someone who should guarantee our security.”
The incident has since drawn condemnation from media circles, with growing calls on Governor Sanwo-Olu to order a formal investigation and take appropriate disciplinary action to prevent future harassment of journalists.
