17-year-old Quadri Yusuf Alabi, who became a viral sensation after a photo of him standing in front of the convoy of Peter Obi during the 2023 general election, surfaced online, has spoken about his traumatic experience while remanded in prison.
Quadri was arrested by the police in January 2025. He was arraigned in court and has been in prison custody since then. His plight was brought to the public last week by a young lady who asked that Nigerians rise up to ensure the teenager gets freed.
While the police claim Quadri was arrested and charged in connection with a violent street fight in the Amukoko area of Lagos earlier this year, Quadri insisted that he was framed.
While speaking on Channels TV this morning, Quadri stated that up until the day he was arrested, he served as a motorboy to a driver who travelled around to deliver fish.
He mentioned that on the day he was arrested, he had just finished the day’s job, collected his money from his boss and was heading home. He mentioned that he had just arrived at the gate to his compound when some police officers accosted him and accused him of being part of those who had recently had a street fight.
Quadri said that is how he was picked up and then taken to the station. He mentioned that of all the people who were arrested, he was the youngest of them. He mentioned that while he was in prison, he served as the person to evacuate faeces from the pit hole that serves as their toilet.
He stated that he wants to go to school and needs all the help he can get.
Meanwhile, over N10 million has so far been raised for Quadri by well-meaning Nigerians.
Watch a video of him speaking below;
