Actress Sarah Martins Tearfully Recounts Harassment by Lagos Task Force for Cooking on Lekki Street

Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has shared an emotional video narrating her encounter with officials of the Lagos State Task Force, who allegedly harassed her while she was preparing free meals for the less privileged in the Lekki area of Lagos.

In the video posted on her Instagram page, Martins tearfully explained that she was cooking food for the homeless and vulnerable — a charitable act she says she regularly carries out — when uniformed officers arrived and disrupted the outreach.

According to her, the officials not only stopped her from completing the exercise but also seized her cooking gas, utensils, and the food she had prepared. “My only offense was serving love on a plate through my healthy meals,” she lamented, adding that she was not running a business but simply engaging in an act of kindness.

“My heart aches. Today, as I was cooking free food for the vulnerable and homeless like I always do, some uniform men came, harassed me, bullied me, and took away everything I was using to cook. I am not a chef and I do not cook to sell,” she said in the now-viral clip.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on a busy Lekki street, has sparked widespread debate online. While many sympathized with the actress for her good intentions, others faulted her for violating public order laws by cooking in an open public space without authorization.

Some social media users argued that Martins should have obtained a permit or prepared the food elsewhere before distributing it. One commenter noted, “Even Hilda Baci took permission before cooking in public. Next time, get approval first.” Others, however, condemned the task force’s alleged heavy-handed approach, calling it unnecessary and heartless.

Critics of the actress described her action as a public nuisance and safety risk, citing potential hazards from using cooking gas in a busy area. Defenders countered that Lagos authorities should encourage charitable acts rather than punish them.

The Lagos State Government has yet to comment officially on the incident, but the episode reignites conversations about the balance between public safety enforcement and support for humanitarian initiatives in Nigeria’s commercial capital.