…“The police command has seen the viral video,” Adebisi wrote on X. “We are investigating to establish the full circumstances and verify the officer’s identity.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Lagos State Police Command has begun investigating a viral video that shows a uniformed officer being assaulted by a mob over an alleged theft.
The clip, which surfaced on Wednesday, captures the officer bleeding from the mouth as he sits on the ground surrounded by an irate crowd. Visibly shaken and pleading, he remains in his uniform while onlookers record the incident with their phones.
Although several voices accuse him of stealing, the exact nature of the alleged offence was still unclear at the time of filing this report.
The video also shows another officer attempting to push through the crowd in a bid to rescue his colleague, while the mob repeatedly chants “Ole!” (thief) in Yoruba. Commercial buses and tricycles can be seen moving slowly around the chaotic scene, including a yellow bus marked “Ayedade,” indicating the incident occurred in a busy Lagos location.
Reacting to the footage, Lagos Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said an inquiry had been opened to determine what transpired and to confirm the identity of the officer.
“The police command has seen the viral video,” Adebisi wrote on X. “We are investigating to establish the full circumstances and verify the officer’s identity. Updates will follow soon.”
The Nigerian Police Force has repeatedly warned the public against resorting to mob action, stressing that all allegations, whether against civilians or security personnel must be handled legally.
Earlier report had it that the Plateau State Police Command arrested 18 suspects linked to the mob killing of a police officer known as Inspector Jeremiah and another individual in Bassa Local Government Area. That attack occurred when officers attempted to arrest a suspect accused of intimidation, trespass and encroaching on farmland.
