THE Lagos State Police Command has opened an investigation into a viral video showing a uniformed officer being assaulted by a mob following an allegation of theft.
The footage, which circulated widely yesterday, shows the officer sitting on the ground with blood dripping from his mouth while surrounded by an irate crowd. Visibly shaken and pleading, he appeared unable to defend himself as onlookers recorded the incident with their phones.
Although voices in the background repeatedly accused him of stealing, the specific details of the alleged offence were unclear at the time of this report.
Another police officer was seen attempting to push through the crowd to rescue his colleague, even as the mob chanted “Ole!” — the Yoruba word for “thief.”
A yellow commercial bus marked “Ayedade” was spotted in the clip, suggesting that the incident occurred in a busy part of Lagos.
Reacting to the video, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed via X that the command had begun efforts to verify the circumstances of the incident and establish the identity of the officer involved.
“We are investigating to determine the full circumstances and confirm the identity of the officer. Updates will follow soon,” Adebisi wrote.
The Nigerian Police Force has repeatedly cautioned the public against mob justice, stressing that accusations — whether against civilians or security personnel — must be handled through lawful processes.
Recall that the Plateau State Police Command arrested 18 people in connection with the killing of a police officer known as Inspector Jeremiah during a mob attack in Bassa Local Government Area.
The incident occurred as officers attempted to arrest a suspect accused of intimidation, trespass, and encroachment on farmland.