Police explain why officers assaulted man in viral video
…Inspector, traditional ruler, CDA Chairman injured
CITIZENS COMPASS –Lagos State Police Command has explained the circumstance leading to the viral video which captured some of its officers assaulting a man.
The Command said the assault occurred at Makinde Odewale Street, Oregun, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
According to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni, the Alausa Division of the Command were in the area to arrest some suspected drug dealers unfortunately, the suspects launched an attack on the officers.
However, the Command frowned on the unethical conduct of the officers in their bid to handle the assault as one of them, an inspector was seriously injured by the suspects.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Wednesday gave further details about the assault.
He said the Commissioner has ordered the immediate commencement of an orderly room trial of the entire team of the police officers.
“Alausa Division of the Lagos State Police Command, having received numerous complaints on the flagrant abuse of hard drugs on Makinde Odewale Street, Oregun, mobilized some officers on July 2, 2024 to arrest the drug users and dealers. They, however, met stiff resistance leading to serious injury to one Inspector of police, who was stabbed in the head with a broken bottle, and assault on the Olu of Alausa and CDA Chairman. The injured Inspector has since been hospitalized.
“Nonetheless, a reinforcement team succeeded in arresting some suspects with substances suspected to be illicit drugs. Regrettably, the reinforcement team, in their bid to ensure the arrest of the mastermind of the attack on the police officer, resorted to unprofessional, unethical and uncouth methods, which were captured on video.
“CP Fayoade totally condemns the actions of the police officers as those actions are not in tandem with the values and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police. He equally condemns the actions of the youths in attacking police officers, warning that any person found culpable in this regard would definitely be dealt with in accordance with the law,
“The Lagos State Police Command assures Lagosians that the Command would not relent in delivering on its mandates of maintenance of law and order, prevention and detection of crime, apprehension and prosecution of criminals, amongst others.”
