A Catholic Priest based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Fr John Okerulu has narrated his ordeal in the hands of men attached to the Surulere Local Council Area.
In a video posted on X on Monday, August 18, 2025, the priest could be heard questioning the reason for being flagged down despite having his vehicle particulars, in response, the men brought papers insisting that Siena owners obtain the papers, in response, he said he’s only a private car owner and not a transporter.
Fr Okerulu said he’s in Lagos for a programme and decided to drop a fellow priest at the park before being flagged down and told to bring out some papers or elsewhere his car will be impounded.
Narrating to The Guardian, he said: “I had a fellow priest with me who was going to Benin, Edo State and I decided to drop him at the park, but when we got to Orile, the men blockaded my car. They introduced themselves as members of Surulere Local Government Taskforce taskforce and showed me some papers, in response, I showed them necessary documents and told them that I am a private car owner and though, I have a Lagos number plate but I don’t base in Lagos. I called a police officer and I explained what transpired. The Police officer told me that I should insist on my right. I told the men that I can’t pay anything that I have a complete document.
“I have my papers and I am always on my cassock and not as if I’m a transporter. I insisted that they should take me to their office and to jumped into my vehicle and we drove down to their office but while approaching the gate, they asked me to settle with them but I insisted on going in. I was taken to the security post.
“A man at the post started engaging me and said to me, ‘let me be sincere with you, this paper is issued per region’ but I questioned him that the paper he showed me stated that it should be accepted across the 774 local councils in Nigeria. While speaking with the man, some hilux trucks drove him and the man said his oga (boss) has come in. Not too long, the person that brought me to the office returned to engage me and a while later, the person speaking with me at the office left as if he ran away, and next thing, I was shouted on to leave. I decided to drive off and the same men followed me back to drop them off at the spot they flagged me down. I didn’t pay a penny but I spent about an hour in their office.
When The Guardian reached out to the Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, he said: “They should be asked who they are working for.”
When The Guardian reached out to spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, he said: “They are government officials and it’s a matter only the Commissioner for Information can speak on. It’s a government matter.
