Lagos, Nigeria – October 17, 2025 – In a heartbreaking incident that has ignited fury across social media and beyond, popular Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has accused officials from the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) squad of physically assaulting her during a well-intentioned charity food drive in the upscale Lekki Phase 1 neighborhood.
The confrontation unfolded on Thursday afternoon along Admiralty Way, where Martins, known for her roles in films like Blood Sisters and her outspoken advocacy for social causes, was distributing free, nutritious meals to the homeless and less privileged. Accompanied by volunteers, the 35-year-old actress had set up a makeshift cooking station on the roadside median to prepare and serve hot plates of jollof rice, stewed chicken, and vegetables—part of her ongoing “Feed the Needy” initiative aimed at combating hunger in urban slums.
Eyewitness videos circulating online capture the chaos as KAI officers in green uniforms descended on the scene, demanding the group cease operations for allegedly violating public hygiene and traffic regulations. Martins, who was personally handling a pot of sizzling hot oil for frying accompaniments, recounted in a tearful Instagram Live session how the officials seized cooking equipment, confiscated prepared food packs, and escalated the situation into violence. “They grabbed everything from us without warning. I was just trying to serve love on a plate, not sell anything,” she said, her voice breaking as she displayed a blistered burn on her right hand. “One of them yanked the pot, and the hot oil splashed all over me. I’m in so much pain right now, but the heartbreak is worse—seeing the hungry people we came for watch it all happen.”
Martins, a mother of two and vocal philanthropist, emphasized that her team had chosen the location carefully to avoid disrupting traffic, cooking entirely on the roadside shoulder. The incident left her with second-degree burns requiring immediate medical attention at a nearby clinic, where she received treatment for the injury and emotional trauma. Photos shared on her social media show angry red welts on her skin, with the actress vowing to pursue legal action. “This isn’t about me; it’s about every good Samaritan who wants to help without fear,” she posted, garnering over 50,000 supportive comments in hours.
The Lagos State Government responded swiftly through its Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, defending the KAI brigade’s intervention as a necessary enforcement of sanitation bylaws. In a statement released late Thursday, Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab described the operation as routine, aimed at preventing open-street cooking that could lead to environmental hazards or blockages in high-traffic areas like Lekki. “While we commend charitable efforts, such activities must comply with public health guidelines to avoid risks to all road users,” the statement read, urging citizens to obtain prior permits for outdoor events. Officials claimed no assault occurred, attributing the oil spill to an accidental mishap during the equipment seizure, though they expressed regret over any injuries sustained.
Public reaction has been polarized but overwhelmingly sympathetic to Martins. Celebrities like Mercy Johnson and Uche Jombo flooded her comments with messages of solidarity, calling for an independent probe into KAI’s conduct. “This is abuse of power at its worst—harassing someone for feeding the poor?” Johnson wrote. On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like #JusticeForSarahMartins and #EndKAIHarassment trended nationwide, with users sharing clips of the scuffle and debating the balance between urban order and humanitarian aid. Critics, including human rights advocate Segun Awosanya (@segalink), lambasted the enforcement as heavy-handed, while a minority argued Martins should have coordinated with local authorities in advance.
This isn’t the first time KAI has clashed with informal vendors or do-gooders in Lagos, a megacity grappling with rapid urbanization and stark inequality. Past incidents, including raids on street hawkers, have drawn international scrutiny for alleged brutality. Martins’ case, however, strikes a unique chord—transforming a simple act of kindness into a flashpoint for broader discussions on empathy in governance.
As investigations loom, the actress has called on fans to donate to her foundation’s emergency relief fund, vowing not to let the attack deter her mission. “Pain fades, but hunger doesn’t wait,” she concluded in her update. “We’ll rise, and we’ll keep feeding.”
NigeriaWire News Desk contributed to this report.