The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral social media claim suggesting that a police inspector seen being beaten in a recent video was caught stealing.
Authorities say the narrative circulating online is misleading and does not reflect the true circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the Command, the officer in the video is an Inspector attached to the Lagos State Taskforce. He was carrying out official duties enforcing the state’s ban on wrongful parking along Brown Street in Oshodi when the confrontation began.
The Inspector had reportedly stopped a motorist attempting to park illegally. The situation quickly escalated as the driver became violent, leading to a heated clash.
During the struggle, the policeman accidentally discharged shots onto the road, and debris from the impact injured some passersby. The commotion drew a mob to the scene, and the Inspector was subsequently attacked, sustaining significant injuries.
The Lagos Police Command said the Inspector has already been subjected to internal disciplinary procedures for his unprofessional conduct during the encounter.
Meanwhile, 13 suspects identified in the video assaulting the officer have been arrested and are currently in custody. They will be prosecuted when investigations are concluded.
The suspects include: 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, CP Olohundare Jimoh, condemned both the Inspector’s misconduct and the mob attack. He emphasized that while officers must remain professional, attacks on law enforcement personnel performing their lawful duties are criminal and will not be tolerated.
The Command urged Lagos residents to desist from spreading misinformation and remain cooperative with security agencies to maintain peace and order across the state.