A video of an encounter between a woman and the security detail of the Olu of Warri, a prominent Nigerian monarch, has gone viral, sparking intense online debate about protocol and perceived classism.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 6, in Lagos at an event hosted by the Wole Soyinka Center for Culture and Creative Arts. Footage shows the Olu of Warri being greeted by event organizers upon his arrival. After one organizer introduced a young woman on their team, she stepped forward and extended her hand for a handshake.
Her gesture was swiftly intercepted by a member of the monarch's security team, who was seen physically pushing her hand down. The Olu of Warri acknowledged the woman verbally but did not offer a handshake in return.
The video has divided social media commenters. One camp criticizes the woman for breaching traditional protocol by attempting to shake a king's hand without clear initiation. The opposing viewpoint condemns the security guard's physical intervention, arguing that the action was disrespectful and that the response would have been different if the guest was deemed "important."
The debate intensified as users circulated another clip from the same event showing the monarch standing to exchange a handshake with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with no security intervention.
The contrasting footage has led many to question whether the enforcement of royal protocol is applied uniformly or is influenced by social status.
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