Saapade Accident: Ogun Crime Watch urges Police to invite Nollywood actor over alleged falsehood

Ogun Crime Watch has called on the Nigeria Police Force to invite Nollywood actor, Kunle Afod, for questioning over what it described as the deliberate circulation of misleading information and misrepresentation of events surrounding Friday’s road accident at Saapade on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The group said the timing of the actor’s video, in which he reportedly questioned the emergency response to the accident, raised serious concerns about his intentions and suggested an attempt to mislead the public about the intervention of the Ogun State Government’s emergency response team.

In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Olumide Martin, the group disclosed that the state emergency response team arrived at the accident scene at 12:28 p.m., while Afod reportedly published his video at 12:29 p.m., barely one minute after the team’s arrival.

Ogun Crime Watch said the timeline raised questions about the actor’s claims and the circumstances surrounding the production and publication of the video, particularly when emergency responders were already at the scene attending to the victims.

It alleged that the video appeared calculated to create a negative impression about the government’s response, undermine public confidence in the emergency management system and advance a political narrative favourable to opposition interests.

The group further alleged that the actor’s intervention bore the imprint of partisan political communication, adding that public safety and the welfare of accident victims should never be exploited for political advantage or personal gain.

It therefore urged the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the video, establish the facts and determine whether any laws were breached in the process of circulating potentially misleading information.

The group emphasised that its position was not an attempt to prevent freedom of expression or legitimate criticism of government but a demand for responsibility, accuracy and accountability, especially when public statements concern emergencies involving human lives.

The accident involved a Mazda bus conveying 18 passengers, which reportedly suffered a tyre burst before crashing into a concrete barrier around the Saapade axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Thirteen passengers sustained injuries and were evacuated to hospitals for medical attention.

Ogun Crime Watch commiserated with the victims and their families, wishing those receiving medical attention a speedy recovery.

It also urged motorists to observe speed limits, avoid dangerous driving, maintain their vehicles properly and comply with Federal Road Safety Corps regulations to reduce the incidence of preventable road accidents.

The group called on public figures and social media influencers to exercise restraint and verify information before publishing reports, noting that irresponsible commentary during emergencies could create unnecessary panic, mislead the public and diminish confidence in the work of emergency responders.