The Lagos State Police Command has debunked claims circulating on social media that an Inspector of Police was caught stealing in a viral video, insisting that the narration accompanying the footage is “false and misleading”.
The matter first drew wide attention after a viral video circulated on Wednesday showing a uniformed officer with blood pouring from his mouth sitting on the ground surrounded by an angry crowd.
In the footage, the officer appeared distressed and pleading, while dozens of onlookers held up their phones to record the incident.
Voices in the background repeatedly accused him of theft, chanting “Ole!” (thief), though the specific offence was unclear. A yellow commercial bus with the inscription “Ayedade” suggested the incident occurred along a busy Lagos axis.
At one point, another officer tried to intervene, pushing through the crowd to rescue his colleague.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Inspector who was attached to the Lagos State Taskforce, was on official duty enforcing the State Government’s ban on illegal parking along Brown Street, Oshodi, when he stopped a motorist who attempted to park wrongly. The motorist allegedly became violent, leading to a confrontation.
“In the course of his duty, he stopped a motorist who attempted to park wrongly. The motorist became violent, resulting in a heated confrontation.
“During the incident, the Inspector accidentally discharged shots onto the road, and debris from the impact affected some passersby. The mob immediately gathered, during which the Inspector was violently attacked and sustained serious injuries,” Adebisi stated.
The Command also said the Inspector has been subjected to disciplinary actions for “unprofessional conduct,” while thirteen suspects captured assaulting the officer in the video have been arrested and will be prosecuted upon the completion of investigations.
“The inspector has been subjected to disciplinary actions in line with established police procedures for his unprofessional conduct. In the same vein, thirteen (13) suspects captured in the viral video assaulting the officer have been arrested, currently in police custody, and will be prosecuted upon the completion of investigations.
“They are: Dele Oriade ‘m’ aged 39 years, Adekunle Olalere ‘m’ aged 40 years, Mudashiru Olamilekan ‘m’ aged 28 years, Anayo Achusie 34 years, Joshua Enwonyin ‘m’ aged 24 years, Okoro Okechukwu ‘m’ 26 years, Rilwan Lateef ‘m’ aged 32 years, Damilare Odebode ‘m’ aged 22 years, Haruna Aleshi ‘n’ 25 years, Sodiq Omoniyi ‘m’ aged 26 years, Chukwudi Patience ‘f’ aged 25 years, Godstime Okafor ‘f’ 26 years, Chinedu Divine ‘m’ 29 years.”
According to the statement, commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, condemned the “unprofessional conduct of the personnel involved” but warned that “assaulting law enforcement officers is a criminal offence and will not be condoned under any circumstances.”
The PRO urged the public to “remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation, and continue to cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order across the state.”