- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Police Force has reacted to the alleged assault of influencer Raheem Abike Halimah, popularly called Papaya Ex, by its officers in Lagos State.
NPO earlier Reported the circulation of disturbing videos showing Papaya Ex’s horrible encounter with Policemen in Lagos.
Though the genesis of the encounter could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, NPO Reports observed that the incident occurred around the Lekki-Ajah axis of Lagos State late in the evening of Friday.
The influencer could be seen in the video accusing the policemen, one of whom was already inside her car, of brutalising her.
A side of her face showed bruises while she also accused the security agents of hitting her breasts with their gun.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on his X handle on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, recounted what he claimed to have occurred between Papaya Ex and the officers before the influencer went on live recording.
According to Hundeyin, the vehicle conveying Papaya Ex was intercepted by the police officers on night patrol around 1:30am to 2am.
The influencer was alleged to have refused the officers’ request to conduct a check on the car while challenging the officers.
As against her claim in the video, the Police spokesperson alleged that Papaya had insisted on going to the station rather than allowing the officers search the car.
“Just before 2am, police on night patrol stopped a car conveying three men and two women and asked to check the car.
“She bluntly refused saying, ‘You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me.’
“She chose to rather go to the station after which an officer sat in her vehicle, not before an initial refusal.” Hundeyin said.
The Force spokesperson claimed the influencer would instruct her driver to speed off after the officers agreed to take her to the station.
Her directive to her drive allegedly to the police patrol van lost trail of the car before it was stopped by another patrol team ahead.
“Her vehicle was in front while the patrol vehicle was following behind.
“She instructed her driver to speed off, leaving the patrol vehicle far behind. At that rate, the patrol van was going to lose them.
“The police had to radio the patrol team far ahead to intercept them. Then the live began…” Hundeyin added.
The spokesperson charged the Lagos Police Command to take over the case for further investigation.