The Lagos State Police Command has arrested thirteen suspects seen in a viral video assaulting an injured police inspector in Oshodi, dismissing social media claims that the officer was caught stealing.
The video, which trended widely on Wednesday, showed the bloodied inspector sitting on the ground while an agitated mob surrounded him, chanting “Ole!” and recording the scene on their phones. Another officer was seen struggling to push through the crowd in a bid to rescue his colleague.
However, in a statement issued Thursday, Police Public Relations Officer SP Abimbola Adebisi said the circulating narrative was false.
According to the Command, the inspector, attached to the Lagos State Taskforce, was attacked while enforcing the government’s ban on illegal parking along Brown Street, Oshodi.
Adebisi explained that the officer had stopped a motorist attempting to park wrongly when the driver allegedly became violent. A confrontation followed, during which the inspector accidentally discharged shots onto the road, with debris from the impact injuring some passersby.
“The mob immediately gathered, during which the Inspector was violently attacked and sustained serious injuries,” Adebisi said.
She confirmed that the officer has been placed under disciplinary review for unprofessional conduct. Meanwhile, the police arrested thirteen individuals identified in the video assaulting the inspector. They are currently in custody and will be prosecuted upon completion of investigations.
Those arrested 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 conduct but stressed that attacking law enforcement personnel is a criminal act that will not be tolerated.
He urged members of the public to remain calm, refrain from spreading misinformation, and cooperate with security agencies to maintain peace and order across the state.
