- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Police Command has clarified viral video of officer assaulted by mobs over alleged theft.
The officer confirmed to be an Inspector of Police was beaten with a caption falsely alleging that he was caught stealing.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, the Lagos Police Command clarified that the narration accompanying the video is false and misleading.
According to the statement, the Inspector, attached to the Lagos State Taskforce, was enforcing the State Government’s ban on wrong parking along Brown Street, Oshodi.
In the course of his duty, he stopped a motorist who attempted to park wrongly.
The confrontation that ensued between the duo led to the officer firing shots which triggered the mob action.
“The motorist became violent, resulting in a heated confrontation.
“During the incident, the Inspector accidentally discharged shots onto the road and debris.
“The mob immediately gathered, during which the Inspector was violently attacked and sustained serious injuries.” The statement partly read.
The Lagos Police disclosed that the Inspector has since been subjected to disciplinary actions in line with established police procedures for his unprofessional conduct.
The Police also confirmed the arrest of 13 suspects captured in the viral video assaulting the officer.
They are currently in police custody, and billed to be prosecuted upon the completion of investigations.
The suspects, as profiled in the statement, include Dele Oriade ‘m’ aged 39 years, Adekunle Olalere ‘m’ aged 40 years, Mudashiru Olamilekan ‘m’ aged 28 years, Anayo Achusie 34 years, Joshua Enwonyin ‘m’ aged 24 years, and Okoro Okechukwu ‘m’ 26 years.
Others include Rilwan Lateef ‘m’ aged 32 years, Damilare Odebode ‘m’ aged 22 years, Haruna Aleshi ‘n’ 25 years, Sodiq Omoniyi ‘m’ aged 26 years, Chukwudi Patience ‘f’ aged 25 years, Godstime Okafor ‘f’ 26 years, and Chinedu Divine ‘m’ 29 years.
I’m his reaction, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, condemned the unprofessional conduct of the personnel involved.
Olohundare however warned against any form of attack on police officers performing lawful duties.
He reiterated that assaulting law enforcement officers is a criminal offence and will not be condoned under any circumstances.