Title: Just Nearly ₦10 Million Raised for 17-Year-Old Quadri Alabi, Wrongfully Accused and Detained by the Police
Funds Exceeding ₦10 Million Collected for 17-Year-Old Quadri Alabi due to Contested Arrest
Hey there! Let's dive into the freshest scoop about teenager Quadri Alabi, who's been through a rollercoaster ride due to allegedly unjust arrest and detention by the Lagos police.
Oh, it all started when our beloved Peter Obi's presidential campaign caught everyone's attention, including young Quadri, who gained fame for standing in front of his convoy! But that attention wasn't all good – it attracted some shady area boys seeking their cut and eventual trouble.
Recently, on Channels Television, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong spilled the beans about the staggering ₦10 million raised in just four days for Quadri's wellbeing! That's the incredible power of the Nigerian spirit at work!
But let's delve deeper into what led up to this fundraising fairy tale. It seems the problem began when Quadri's publicity brought him both recognition and unwanted harassment. Those pesky area boys started extorting money from him, claiming he hadn't paid up despite receiving funds from the campaign.
They even pressured his mother to throw a royal feast for the community! It was all too much, so she refused, leading to escalating threats. Effiong puts it bluntly: "This wasn’t the first time these area boys had targeted Alabi."
In January, while returning from work, Quadri was arrested by two local hooligans – Leggy and Baba Waris – who claimed he'd ignored them despite receiving money from the campaign. They handed him over to the police, and from there began an almost three-month struggle!
Amazingly, Quadri was charged alongside four adult men he'd never even met! They were accused of an armed robbery that supposedly occurred on January 22nd at 10 p.m. Yet, no identification parade was conducted, and there was no evidence linking Quadri to the crime.
To make matters worse, the police deliberately listed Quadri's age as 18 in court documents, which would've allowed for a trial in a regular court. If they'd stated he was 17, things might've played out differently, possibly saving him a stint in a regular prison.
Quadri himself recalled the brutal arrest and the harsh conditions during his detention. While locked up with older men, he was forced to clean the prison's filthiest corners. Despite it all, he maintained his innocence: "I was just at the entrance of my house when the police came and arrested me. The area boys pointed me out. At the station, I was the youngest there. I was locked up with older men. They asked me what I did, and I said nothing."
Thanks to strong public support and legal advocacy, Quadri's been released and is now making a fresh start. Aiming to relocate him from Amukoko and provide a source of income for his mother, who's a humble trader, the ongoing fundraising effort shows just how far the Nigerian spirit will go!
You should check out:
- "Quadri: Nigeria Police is Far From Redemption – Effiong"
- "Counsel Demands ₦100 Million Compensation for Quadri, Peter Obi's Supporter"
- "Lawyer Reveals Plan to Secure Release of Boy Who Stood in Front of Peter Obi's Convoy"
- "Supreme Court Judgement: 'Fubara Clearly Knows it is a Fight of Survival' – Inibehe Effiong"
- "Police Lock Lawyer in Cell for Defending Activist who Collapsed While in Detention"
- "'Do Not Allow Dele Farotimi's Case Define Your Legacy' – Effiong Tells Afe Babalola, Knocks Police"
Sources:
- [1] "Police Arrest 17-Year-Old Boy, Charged with Armed Robbery Days after Peter Obi's Convoy Incident" [online] Available at: https://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2025/04/23/police-arrest-17-year-old-boy-charged-with-armed-robbery-days-after-peter-obi-convoy-incident/ (accessed on April 30, 2025)
- [2] "Teenage Boy Arrested for Jumping in Front of Peter Obi's Convoy Releases Emotional Statement" [online] Available at: https://www.thewhistlernews.com/teenage-boy-arrested-for-jumping-in-front-of-peter-obi-s-convoy-releases-emotional-statement-(video)/ (accessed on April 30, 2025)
- [3] "17-Year-Old Quadri Alabi Reveals How He Barely Made it Through 3-Month Detention" [online] Available at: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/04/23/17-year-old-quadri-alabi-reveals-how-he-barely-made-it-through-3-month-detention/ (accessed on April 30, 2025)
- [4] "Lagos Police Acknowledges Shortcomings in Quadri Alabi's Arrest and Detention but Justifies Their Actions" [online] Available at: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/local/lagos-police-acknowledges-shortcomings-in-quadri-alabis-arrest-and-detention-but-justifies-their-actions-448081.html (accessed on April 30, 2025)
- [5] "Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, Raises Alarm Over Alleged Police Brutality Against 17-Year-Old Quadri Alabi" [online] Available at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/human-rights-lawyer-inibehe-effiong-raises-alarm-over-alleged-police-brutality-against-17-year-old-quadri-alabi/ (accessed on April 30, 2025)
- The fundraising effort for Quadri Alabi, the 17-year-old who was wrongfully accused and detained by the Lagos police, confirmed a remarkable strength of the Nigerian spirit, with ₦10 million raised in just four days.
- In a General News discussion on Channels Television, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong pointed out that this wasn’t the first instance of area boys targeting Quadri Alabi, emphasizing the need for stronger police investigations in instances like these.
- Effiong also condemned the politics surrounding Quadri's case and called for prosecutions of those responsible for his unjust arrest and detention in the Crime and Justice section.
- The arrest and detention of Quadri Alabi by the Lagos police reminded many of the ongoing issues with police accountability in Nigeria, with ominous parallels drawn to other high-profile cases in the country's political landscape.
- Besides the ₦10 million fundraising initiative, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has demanded a ₦100 million compensation for Quadri, drawing attention to his suffering during the three-month ordeal.
- The Lagos police have acknowledged shortcomings in Quadri's arrest and detention but have justified their actions, sparking debate among Nigerians about the role of the police force in protecting citizens, especially vulnerable youth like Quadri Alabi.
