How I Escaped Mob Attack in Lagos — Joe Igbokwe

Prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, has dismissed reports circulating on social media that he was physically assaulted during a tense encounter with a group of youths at the popular Ladipo Market in Lagos State.

Igbokwe addressed the incident in a video posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday, clarifying that while he faced a hostile situation at the market, he was neither attacked nor beaten as claimed in some online reports.

According to him, the incident occurred on Friday when he visited the bustling automobile spare parts market to purchase components needed to repair his vehicle. What began as a routine visit, he said, quickly attracted attention after some traders and visitors recognized him.

Recounting the experience, the APC stalwart explained that a few individuals started calling out his name and pointing him out to others while he was searching for the parts he needed.

“Yesterday, I went to Ladipo Market to buy some spare parts for my vehicle. As I was moving around in search of the items, some people recognized me and began calling my name. I ignored them because I was focused on what brought me there,” he said.

After completing his purchases, Igbokwe said he returned to his vehicle to install the parts when the situation unexpectedly escalated.

According to him, a growing number of youths began gathering around him while shouting and drawing attention to his presence in the market.

“After buying the parts, I went back to my vehicle to fix them. Suddenly, some young people started gathering and shouting, ‘This is Igbokwe, this is Igbokwe. So you can come to this market?’ The crowd continued to increase, and I noticed the atmosphere becoming tense,” he recalled.

Concerned about the growing crowd, Igbokwe said he decided to move into the shop of a friend within the market for safety while efforts were made to calm the situation.

He disclosed that his friend immediately contacted members of the market leadership, who intervened and helped restore order before the situation could deteriorate further.

“My friend reached out to the market executives, and they responded promptly. They came and managed the situation professionally. Their intervention ensured that nothing untoward happened,” he explained.

Igbokwe stated that after the crowd dispersed and normalcy returned, he quietly left the market without engaging those who had gathered around him.

“When I eventually stepped out, different people were saying different things, but I chose not to react. I simply entered my vehicle and drove away,” he added.

The politician expressed surprise upon discovering the following day that several social media posts had claimed he was physically attacked during the incident.

“I woke up this morning and saw stories online saying Joe Igbokwe was beaten at Ladipo Market. That is completely false. I was not beaten. As you can see, I am here speaking to you myself,” he said while dismissing the reports.

Although he did not elaborate on what may have triggered the reaction from some of the youths, Igbokwe said he hopes such an incident does not occur again.

He also suggested that he would take necessary precautions and consider appropriate measures should he find himself in a similar situation in the future.

The incident has generated widespread reactions on social media, with supporters and critics offering differing interpretations of what transpired at the market. However, Igbokwe insists that while the encounter was tense and uncomfortable, reports alleging that he was assaulted are inaccurate.

His clarification comes amid growing public discussion over the role of social media in spreading unverified information, particularly regarding politically exposed individuals and high-profile public figures.