The Lagos State Police Command has refuted social media claims that a police Inspector seen in a viral video was caught stealing, labeling the narrative accompanying the footage as “false and misleading.”
The incident first gained widespread attention after a video circulated on Wednesday showing a uniformed officer sitting on the ground with blood pouring from his mouth, surrounded by an angry mob.
The distressed officer was seen pleading for mercy while onlookers filmed him. Although the crowd repeatedly chanted “Ole!” (thief), the exact offense was unclear.
The presence of a yellow commercial bus marked “Ayedade” indicated the incident took place on a busy Lagos road.
Read Also: Ole, Ole – Mob Assaults Police Officer For ‘Stealing’ [VIDEO]
The footage also showed another officer attempting to intervene and 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.
The confrontation began when the Inspector stopped a motorist who allegedly tried to park illegally. The motorist reportedly “became violent, resulting in a heated confrontation.”
Adebisi provided a quoted statement detailing the escalation of the incident:“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 confirmed that the Inspector has been placed under disciplinary action for “unprofessional conduct.” Concurrently, the police have arrested thirteen suspects captured in the video assaulting the officer, stating they “will be prosecuted upon the completion of investigations.”
The arrested suspects were listed as: Dele Oriade (39), Adekunle Olalere (40), Mudashiru Olamilekan (28), Anayo Achusie (34), Joshua Enwonyin (24), Okoro Okechukwu (26), Rilwan Lateef (32), Damilare Odebode (22), Haruna Aleshi (25), Sodiq Omoniyi (26), Chukwudi Patience (25), Godstime Okafor (26), and Chinedu Divine (29).
Commissioner of Police for the Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, condemned “the unprofessional conduct of the personnel involved.”
However, he issued a stern warning: “assaulting law enforcement officers is a criminal offence and will not be condoned under any circumstances.”
Finally, 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.”
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