Mr Eniola Daniel, a journalist with The Guardian newspapers, was on July 31, 2026, harassed, threatened, and beaten until he bled, by a group of area touts while investigating the activities of alleged land grabbers at Santos Estate, Akowonjo, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Police officers who reportedly witnessed the assault watched without intervening.
According to media reports, Mr Daniel specifically identified one Mr Ali Hassan, whom, he said introduced himself as the attorney to the family of Ashafa Ogundare, the beneficiary of a court judgment in a 23-year-old land dispute that was being enforced, as being present throughout the assault but made no effort to intervene.
Narrating his ordeal, Mr Daniel said he visited the community on the fateful day to investigate reports of intimidation and disruption caused by suspected land grabbers, commonly known as ‘Omo Onile’, operating in the community.
The journalist explained that while he was leaving after speaking with residents of the area, he noticed a group of people heading into Santos Estate, adding that he approached the group and introduced himself as a journalist and thereafter engaged Mr Hassan, who asked Mr Daniel to go with him to inspect the section of the fence that was destroyed by people linked to the dispute.
He said as they proceeded, he explained to Mr Hassan that he had come to interview him on the matter, and he agreed; thereafter, he said he began to record footage of the scene.
Mr Daniel said the situation quickly turned violent when suddenly, one of Mr Hassan’s associates approached him and demanded that he stop recording. He said the lawyer’s associate physically assaulted him, striking him until he started bleeding. While the incident was unfolding, according to Mr Daniel, another member of the group punched him on his left hand and they continued assaulting him. He further disclosed that another member of the group threatened him, boasting that they could kill him without consequences.
Mr Daniel disclosed that the assault stopped after he left the scene on the advice of a resident.
He said: “All of this happened in the presence of police officers. The police did not intervene at any point. They stood by and did nothing.”
