Lagos Police Refute Viral Claim, Arrest 13 Over Assault on Taskforce Inspector
The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral social media narrative claiming that a police inspector seen being beaten in a circulating video was caught stealing.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Command described the claim as “false and misleading”, insisting that the incident was misrepresented online.
According to the statement, the officer in the video is an Inspector attached to the Lagos State Taskforce who was deployed to Brown Street, Oshodi, to enforce the state government’s ban on wrong parking.
Trouble reportedly began when he stopped a motorist attempting to park unlawfully. The driver became violent, triggering a heated confrontation.
During the scuffle, the Inspector accidentally discharged shots onto the road, and debris from the impact struck some passersby. This sparked a mob reaction, during which the officer was overpowered and brutally assaulted, sustaining serious injuries.
The police confirmed that the Inspector has since faced internal disciplinary measures for his unprofessional conduct. Meanwhile, thirteen suspects captured in the viral footage attacking the officer have been arrested and are currently in custody. They are to face prosecution upon completion of investigations.
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.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, condemned the officer’s misconduct but warned strongly against attacks on law enforcement personnel performing lawful duties. He stressed that assaulting police officers is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated.
The Command urged residents to desist from spreading misinformation and to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining public order across the state.
