The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, to investigate hip-hop artiste Habeeb Okikilola, popularly known as Portable, over his alleged claim that he founded armed robbery groups in the state. 

Police spokesman in Abuja, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a tweet on Monday that the IGP directive will assist the police to “fish out pillars and sponsors of cult groups” in the country and restore sanity in the society.

“Sequel to the trending video of one Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable where he claimed to have formed the One-Million Boys cult group terrorising some parts of Lagos State, the IGP has ordered CP Lagos to investigate the indicting statement and take necessary legal action,” Mr Adejobi tweeted. 

“This directive is premised on the continuous effort of the Nigeria Police Force to fish out pillars and sponsors of cult groups in order to decimate their activities and restore sanity to our society,” he said.

In a since deleted video posted on Instagram and reported by Peoples Gazette, Mr Okikiola claimed that he founded the notorious criminal gang in Lagos.

“Open your ears and hear me, you’ve heard about Ajah Boys, One Million Boys, I’m their founder,” the singer said in Yoruba.

Following his statement, there was a public outcry on social media, with Nigerians demanding that he be investigated over his link with the One Million Boys, an armed robbery group that terrorised Lagos and environs in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.