Popular land developer and speculator, Alhaji Taoreed Faronbi, otherwise known as Baba Alado, has denied sponsoring thugs to attack #EndSARS protesters in the Alausa area of Lagos State.
Baba Alado said this during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Thursday.
The Mushin leader, who wields a large following, said he was shocked to hear that he was trending on social media.
Baba Alado, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, said he had not been to Alausa in almost 15 years, adding that he had no reason to attack any protester.
He said, “They are just telling lies against me. I am telling you now that anyone they catch with a cutlass should face justice. I have no interest in Alausa. The police should shoot anyone that is caught disrupting protests. Why should I attack protesters? What interest do I have in the matter?
“I spent a lot of my time in America these days. I am a strong member of the APC. All they have been doing is to accuse me of land grabbing.
“I don’t even know those behind the attacks but I am sure it is politicians that are behind it. I have no hand in the matter. I am not a policeman. So, if the government says they don’t want protesters, am I the one that would enforce such an order?”
Some armed thugs took to the streets of Alausa to attack protesters on Thursday morning.
The protesters have been demonstrating since last Thursday, demanding an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
However, the protests have intensified despite the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the police.
The protests, which have been held in major cities across the country, have caused heavy traffic and affected economic activities.
