The 17-year-old boy who became widespread news after standing in front of the convoy of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 election campaign, Quadri Alabi, has revealed his traumatic experience while he was detained at the Kirikiri Correctional Center in Lagos.
Alabi revealed to the public on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s morning program, The Morning Brief.
Alabi told his story from the beginning: “Since the viral campaign picture surfaced, it seems like some people have been keeping a close watch on me.
“Someone even threatened my mom, saying that the money they have given me would be split in two, or else she wouldn’t see me again.
“They warned that they would kidnap me and take me somewhere. She couldn’t even use the money.
“On the day I returned from work as a motor boy, I had no idea that a fight had broken out in the area and that the police had already surrounded it.
- Woman Leaves Husband after Falling in Love with ChatGPT
- Court Sentences Late Nigerian Gospel Singer Osinachi’s Husband To Death By Hanging
- UTME 2025: Peter Obi Blasts JAMB Over Early Exam Schedule
- JUST IN: Senator Natasha Tenders Apology Letter to Senate President Akpabio
- APC Gives VeryDarkMan Seven Days to Apologise for His Statement on Akpabio’s Condolence Visit to Pope Francis in Rome
- Shocking: See Moment Popular Nigerian TikToker Died During Live Streaming (VIDEO)
“As I approached our house, some area boys grabbed me and handed me over to another, instructing them to take me to their station.
The Boy that Stood in Front of Peter Obi’s Convoy Narrates Traumatic Ordeal in Detention after He Refused to Share Money with Area Boys
“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.’
“Before the arrest, the area boys had already taken my phone and the money in my pocket.
“In Kirikiri, my daily task was to clean up faeces from morning until six in the evening because I couldn’t afford to pay the marshal.”
Alabi’s life took a tragic turn in January 2025 when he was detained without trial, allegedly due to a dispute with local individuals. These individuals reportedly accused him of not sharing a monetary gift he had received after the viral incident, which led to his arrest on charges of armed robbery.
His ordeal went largely unnoticed until human rights attorney Inibehe Effiong visited the detention center and discovered the inhumane conditions Alabi was being held in. Alabi, Effiong said, was forced into the humiliating job of cleaning faeces every day from morning till night. In spite of being arraigned in court several times, Alabi was still kept in detention without a fair trial.
Alabi’s case quickly gained public attention, prompting widespread outcry over the treatment of minors within the Nigerian justice system. Effiong, along with others advocating for justice, worked tirelessly to highlight the unfairness of the situation.
After more than three months in detention, Alabi was finally released, sparking further controversy on the demand for reform of the Nigerian justice system. His unlawful incarceration underscores the lack of accountability and the systemic issues plaguing the country’s handling of juveniles in the justice system.
Alabi’s release has been hailed as a victory for justice and human rights, and his story is a stark reminder of the ordeal of so many in seeking justice and equality before Nigeria’s courts.
Here’s a video following his release:
