Earlier today, officers of the Nigerian Police in Lagos State sealed the venue where popular crossdresser and internet personality Bobrisky hosted a birthday party. Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, turned 28 on Saturday, 31st August 2019.
A spokesperson for the police in Lagos, Bala Elkana, subsequently confirmed the incident. He said,
“The operation is currently ongoing. It is true that we have sealed up the venue of the party based on some intelligence.
“Considering the pedigree of the celebrant, the event may likely cause a breach of public peace and it is expected that no immoral display should be allowed.
“To augment security at each of the venues, ACPOL Area ‘A’ Lion Building/SUPOL Victoria Island mobilise 50 men to provide security at Club DNA, No 76 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, opposite Eko Hotel and Suite, Victoria Island and Paradise Boat Club, plot 8, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island.”
This comes after the Federal government, through the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, threatened to deal with Bobrisky if caught on the streets.
Olusegun said, “Bobrisky is a national disgrace. He started by selling and using bleaching creams. Now, he has grown b***s, bums and hips.”
In response to being labelled as such, Bobrisky took to his Instagram account with a subtle message directed to Runsewe. He dared him to follow through with his threats and see how much clout he (Bobrisky) really has.
Prior to this, during the early hours of the day, Bobrisky flooded her social media page with pre-birthday photos and a video of the party venue.
The police disrupted the party and dispersed guests. From photos and also a video of the event centre, there were a lot of police vehicles stationed around the venue.
Bobrisky is currently a major topic of discussion in Nigeria on several social media platforms. An unidentified social media user, via a video post, later claimed that the 28-year-old is currently on the run and avoiding arrest by officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
There are also claims that about five people who were at the event centre have already been arrested.
Reacting to the development, hundreds of Twitter users expressed their outrage at the reports.
I live in a “country” where the “police” let men who r**e 2 year olds pay four figures and walk out the same day, but Bobrisky (a trans woman who legally isn’t even breaking any laws) gets ambushed and arrested on her birthday. That’s my reality. What’s yours? pic.twitter.com/THS9YFUMs8
— BittersweetLolipop🌻🌈 (@RealityDidThis) August 31, 2019
Whatever issues she has, I absolutely love Bobrisky. She is a mirror in your hypocritical Nigerian faces, ably appropriating your filthy hustle, successfully. Unapologetically. Boldly. She is your fear embodied. Your contradiction personified. Wild and free. You hate to see it.
— The Writer Formerly Known As Elnathan (@elnathan_john) August 31, 2019
Nigeria will always be a joke. While motorists including students, legislators, judges and police themselves are being kidnapped, the force decided that the best use of FIFTY police officers today was to close down Bobrisky’s birthday party. https://t.co/27r0ZZPEJv
— xeenarh 🏳️🌈 (@xeenarh) August 31, 2019
If you know Bobrisky, ask her to seek amnesty in a western country. Ask her to do it now. She has grounds to. Let Nigeria’s idiocy be her silver lining.
— Sandra Ezekwesili (@SEzekwesili) August 31, 2019
For once in my life, I am speechless. 😢 | Lagos CP deploys 100 operatives to venues of Bobrisky’s birthday – TheCable Lifestyle https://t.co/H8avzOuF5J
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) August 31, 2019
I have often said that we are one of the most discriminatory nations on earth. Today alone, it was the arrest of 123 “Okada riders from the north”, the people dismissing traditional medicine practitioners, and now we are deploying 100 police officers because of Bobrisky.
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) August 31, 2019
More comments
– From the video circulating round the net, police allegedly invaded bobrisky ‘s birthday venue,in Lekki,Lagos,to shut it down while dispersing the guests. pic.twitter.com/IuIvpux1Hu
— SubDeliveryZone (@SubDeliveryZone) August 31, 2019
Why do we love to chase rats when a building is burning?
How exactly does Bobrisky’s birthday party affect the security of the state that one hundred police officers were deployed to shut it down.
One hundred!
Waste of taxpayers money in my opinion.
Focus on real issues.
— Aproko Doctor™ (@aproko_doctor) August 31, 2019
“There’s kidnapping ongoing at that express road”
Nigerian Police: Are you telling me that’s more important than Bobrisky’s birthday party?? pic.twitter.com/7pyLrOwp92
— Mazi Ibe (@I_pissVodka) August 31, 2019