Controversial artiste Portable, whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola, is on the run, and the Nigerian police have declared him wanted for attempting to murder three officers.
Portable was declared wanted in a special police gazette bulletin.
A statement on Monday by the police command in Ogun alleged Portable took part in “a violent attack on government officials carrying out their lawful duties.”
It alleged that the hip-hop artiste attacked “officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi — who were conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.”
The command added, “Portable, armed with a firearm and other dangerous weapons, led a gang of nine thugs in a violent attack on the unarmed officials.
“The enforcement officers sustained various bodily injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ota Area Command, which subsequently escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.”
While Portable is on the lam, the police disclosed that nine accomplices in the attack were apprehended.
“Nine accomplices were arrested, but Portable fled the scene and has since gone into hiding.
“Multiple formal invitations were sent to him, requesting his presence at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, which he deliberately ignored without cause or legal representation,” the police statement explained.
Meanwhile, the police have requested the public’s assistance in apprehending Portable.
“Members of the public are strongly advised to assist the police by providing any valuable information that can lead to his immediate arrest. Anyone found aiding or harbouring the suspect will face legal consequences,” the police stated.
Portable is notorious for run-ins with law enforcement.
