Four Police Officers Arrested After Video of Bias Goes Viral

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four officers seen in a viral video making rude and ethnically insensitive comments to a driver during a stop-and-search operation on the Lagos, Benin Expressway.

The police stated that the officers are under investigation after the public reacted strongly to the video, which spread widely on social media on Friday.

The video showed a tense exchange between the officers and the driver, who is said to be a UK returnee. The driver challenged the officers' decision to stop and search him.

During the argument, the driver accused the officers of trying to intimidate him, profiling him based on his ethnicity, and attempting to extort money from him. One officer suggested that the driver would have been detained if he belonged to the Igbo tribe.

This incident led to a lot of outrage on X and other social media platforms, with many Nigerians demanding punishment for the officers involved.

Speaking to reporters in Akure on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the officers had been arrested on the orders of Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu.

The officers arrested are ASP Elomore Sodayo, Inspector Adefila Adewale, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi, and Inspector Odusola Peter.

Jimoh said, “The Command wishes to inform the general public that the officers captured in the video have been arrested and identified as AP/No. 207454 ASP Elomore Sodayo, AP/No. 332012 Inspector Adefila Adewale, AP/No. 332449 Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi, and AP/No. 332369 Inspector Odusola Peter.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, has ordered an investigation to find out what happened and to see how each officer was involved.”

The police spokesman emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force will not accept any misconduct or behavior that could damage public trust in the police.

He said, “The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional body that does not accept any form of misconduct, disrespect, or actions that could harm public trust, increase ethnic division, or bring shame to the Force.

“Officers are expected to behave professionally, respect human dignity, and follow the Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures at all times.”

Jimoh promised that the investigation would be fair and open. He added that any officer found guilty would face the right disciplinary measures.

“The Command assures the public that the investigation will be based on fairness, transparency, and accountability.

“Any officer found to have acted against the ethics and standards of the Nigeria Police Force will face appropriate disciplinary actions as per the law and set procedures,” he said.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professional policing and urged people to report any cases of police misconduct through the proper complaint channels.