Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Ikechukwu Okonkwo, popularly known as Cross, has raised alarm over street safety in Lagos after a street beggar allegedly ripped a chrome trim from the windscreen of his car in the Ikate area of Lekki, Lagos State, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
In a video shared on his X handle, Cross recounted how a group of beggars approached his vehicle while he was driving through the area. According to the reality star, one of the men engaged him in conversation at the car window while another suddenly tore off the weatherstrip around his windscreen and fled into the traffic. "Federal government, I just got robbed," Cross said in the video. "All these beggars, they were in my window talking to me. I did not refuse the guy and he just ripped off something from my car and ran away." He said he immediately stepped out of the vehicle and gave chase but could not catch the suspect, who he said ran too fast and disappeared into the traffic. "He ran so fast. The guy gathered so fast and I knew they are plenty," Cross said.
The reality star expressed deep frustration over the incident and the broader security situation in Lagos, questioning why the government continues to allow street beggars to operate freely in the state's high-traffic corridors. "Nigeria is not safe. Federal government, what kind of mistake are you guys doing allowing these guys on the street?" he asked. "This Lagos, I don't understand why you guys are allowing these people to be on the street. This is unfair." In a subsequent post directed at the Lagos State Government, Cross said, "Please do better. Protect your citizens from this kind of nonsense on the road. This is Lekki Ikate Lagos. I got robbed. And it's very painful that I have to spend money I didn't budget for. Life itself is already hard. Please clear these boys on the road so we can be safe. Thank you."
The incident has drawn attention to recurring complaints by motorists in parts of Lagos, particularly Lekki and other high-traffic corridors, where individuals posing as beggars allegedly target vehicles to steal side mirrors, windscreen trims and other fittings during slow-moving traffic. The pattern is not new. In April 2026, a motorist in the Lekki area reported a similar experience when a group of men surrounded his vehicle at a traffic stop and one of them ripped off the side mirror of his car before fleeing into the crowd. In May, residents of the Lekki-Epe corridor complained that the increasing number of street beggars and hawkers had become a security risk, with some motorists reporting theft of car parts at traffic lights. The Lagos State Government has periodically conducted raids to clear beggars and destitutes from the streets, but the challenge has persisted, particularly in the upscale Lekki and Victoria Island corridors where traffic congestion provides opportunities for opportunistic theft.
Cross, whose real name is Ikechukwu Okonkwo, rose to fame on Big Brother Naija Season 6, tagged Shine Ya Eye, in 2021, and later returned for the All Stars edition in 2023. Since his time on the reality show, he has spoken publicly about his Christian faith and personal transformation, and he has remained a notable figure in Nigerian pop culture. His post has sparked conversations online about street safety and the need for stronger measures against opportunistic crime in Lagos. Some social media users expressed sympathy for Cross, noting that the incident reflected a broader problem facing motorists in the city. Others questioned why the reality star chose to film the aftermath of the incident rather than report it to the police, while some argued that the presence of beggars on Lagos streets was a symptom of deeper economic challenges that the government had failed to address.
The Lagos State Police Command has not issued a statement on the incident as of the time of reporting, and it remains unclear whether Cross has filed a formal complaint. The Lagos State Government has also not responded publicly to his call for action. The police have consistently urged motorists to be vigilant at traffic stops and to report suspicious activities, stressing that timely information can help prevent crime. In September 2026, the Lagos State Police Command arrested two suspects in connection with a series of car part thefts along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, recovering stolen side mirrors and other vehicle fittings. The command said it had intensified patrols along the corridor, but motorists say the incidents have continued.
The broader context of the incident is one of growing concern over street safety in Lagos, a city of more than 20 million people where traffic congestion is a daily reality for millions of commuters. The Lekki corridor, which includes Ikate, is one of the fastest-growing residential and commercial areas in the city, attracting significant investment and development. The concentration of wealth in the area has also made it a target for criminal elements who exploit traffic congestion to steal from vehicles. The Lagos State Government has announced plans to expand its street sweeping and security surveillance programmes, but the implementation of these measures has been uneven.
For Cross, the incident represents both a personal loss and a public statement about the state of security in a city he calls home. "Life itself is already hard," he said in his post. "Please clear these boys on the road so we can be safe." His experience is one that many Lagos motorists share, and his decision to speak out has placed the issue of street safety and the regulation of street begging at the centre of public discourse. Whether his call for action prompts a sustained response from the authorities or becomes another viral moment that fades without resolution remains to be seen. For now, Cross has joined the growing list of Lagos residents who have experienced the city's traffic congestion not only as an inconvenience but as a security risk, and he has made his frustration known in unambiguous terms.
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