Lagos Arrests Man Over Viral Video of Toddler Being Flogged

The Lagos State Government has confirmed the arrest of a man allegedly seen repeatedly flogging a toddler in a viral social media video, as authorities intensify investigations into the reported child abuse.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and is currently in police custody following the circulation of a video that showed a shirtless man repeatedly hitting a young child with what appeared to be a charger cable.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media, showed the child crying and attempting to shield her head and body from the blows. The video triggered widespread concern and calls for authorities to identify and apprehend the person involved.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) initially launched efforts to identify and locate the alleged perpetrator after the video came to public attention.

NAPTIP said it was working with relevant security agencies to locate the man and ensure that he faced appropriate legal action if the allegations were established.

The development took a new turn after the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended.

The DSVA said it was alerted to the alleged abuse in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State on Tuesday and immediately activated its response mechanism.

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The agency subsequently established contact with the child’s mother, who reportedly disclosed that the incident had already been brought to the attention of authorities.

The mother had reportedly approached the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, while the matter was also reported at the Imota Police Station.

The DSVA said officers at the Family Support Unit confirmed that the complaint had been received and that the authorities were already taking steps to address the matter.

Following the reports, the alleged perpetrator was arrested on September 23 and taken into police custody for further investigation.

The child and her mother have also been referred to a General Hospital for medical attention and further assessment.

The DSVA said it would continue to monitor the case and provide necessary support to the child and her mother.

The agency also reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance policy on child abuse, stressing the importance of protecting children from physical violence and other forms of abuse.

The arrest came shortly after NAPTIP’s appeal for information, effectively bringing the initial manhunt to an end while shifting attention to the police investigation and possible prosecution.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the use of social media videos to expose alleged child abuse cases in Nigeria. While viral footage can draw attention to suspected abuse, authorities still have to establish the circumstances surrounding each case through investigation and due process.

For the Lagos incident, the police investigation is expected to determine what led to the alleged assault, the relationship between the suspect and the child, and whether additional offences were committed.

The suspect’s arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. The allegations remain subject to investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.

For now, the Lagos Government has confirmed the arrest, while the child and her mother are receiving medical attention and support as authorities continue investigating the alleged abuse.

Lagos Arrests Man Over Viral Video of Toddler Being Flogged

Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video

The Kwara State Police Command has denied reports that its officers shot a 23-year-old motorcyclist during an incident at Oyun Bridge in Ilorin, saying the viral video that triggered the allegation did not accurately reflect what happened.

The command said Abdurasaq Lukman was not shot but sustained minor injuries after he allegedly rode at high speed and knocked down a police officer during a routine patrol and stop-and-search operation.

The clarification was issued on Wednesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, following the circulation of a video on social media suggesting that the motorcyclist had been shot by police personnel.

According to the police, the incident occurred around Oyun Bridge, on the highway leading towards the Kwara State Polytechnic, where officers were conducting patrol and stop-and-search duties.

The command identified the police officer involved as Corporal Saka Azeez, saying Lukman allegedly knocked him down while riding at high speed.

The impact, according to the police account, left Corporal Azeez with serious head injuries and a fracture, while Lukman sustained minor injuries.

Other officers at the scene reportedly intervened and took both the injured police officer and the motorcyclist to a medical facility for treatment.

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The police said Lukman was treated and discharged but remains in police custody to assist with investigations into the incident.

Corporal Azeez, however, remains under medical care and is expected to undergo further medical examinations and scans to determine the full extent of his head injuries.

The command stressed that no person was shot during the incident, directly contradicting the claims accompanying the viral video.

The video had generated concern online, with earlier reports alleging that a young man had been shot by police officers around the bridge following an altercation involving police personnel and some young people reportedly believed to be students of the polytechnic.

Those earlier claims were not reflected in the police’s subsequent account of the incident.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, urged members of the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information, particularly material circulating on social media.

He said the command recognised citizens’ concerns about police activities but stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing it in order to prevent unnecessary anxiety and misunderstanding.

The police clarification does not, however, end the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

With Lukman still in police custody and Corporal Azeez receiving medical treatment, the outcome of the investigation is expected to provide further details about the events at Oyun Bridge.

For now, the Kwara Police Command maintains that the motorcyclist was not shot, but was injured in a collision with the police officer, while the motorcyclist remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video

Police Probe Alleged Self-Kidnapping of Adeleke’s Aide in Osun

The Osun State Police Command is investigating an alleged self-kidnapping involving Shakirulahi Babatunde, a media aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke, amid claims that the incident was intended to obtain money from government officials.

The controversy began after Babatunde reportedly sent a message claiming that he had been kidnapped, prompting the state government to alert the police.

According to Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, an incident report was immediately lodged with the police on the instruction of the governor’s Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Osun State Police Command, which commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported abduction.

The development took a different turn after allegations emerged that Babatunde may have staged the incident himself in an attempt to extort money from the Osun State Government.

Reports said the alleged incident occurred in Ede, Osun State, with claims that the aide remained in a hideout while contacts were made concerning the purported kidnapping.

The state government has confirmed that the matter is under investigation but has rejected allegations that senior officials of the Adeleke administration are attempting to interfere with the process.

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Rasheed said the government had no reason to frustrate an investigation into a case that it had itself reported to the police.

He also denied reports that Akinleye or other officials attempted to influence police officers or pay them to suppress the investigation.

The spokesperson said the administration would wait for the outcome of the police probe before taking any further action.

The controversy has also triggered a fresh exchange between the Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The opposition party alleged that some government officials initially publicised the reported kidnapping on social media and blamed opposition elements before the circumstances surrounding the case changed.

The APC further alleged that Babatunde was arrested by police officers attached to the Dugbe Division in Osogbo after he was allegedly traced to a hideout.

The party also claimed that the aide confessed to staging the alleged kidnapping.

However, the reported confession has not been independently established by a detailed public statement from the police.

The Osun State Police Command had not publicly released a comprehensive account of the alleged arrest, the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the aide or any confession attributed to him as of the latest reports.

The government has therefore urged the public to allow law enforcement authorities to complete their investigation rather than rely on competing claims surrounding the incident.

The case has attracted attention because of Babatunde’s position as a media aide to Governor Adeleke and the wider political tension between the APC and the Osun Government.

The allegations also come against the background of continuing political disputes in Osun following the 2026 governorship election, won by Adeleke.

For now, the police investigation remains central to determining what happened and whether the reported kidnapping was deliberately staged.

While the state government says it promptly reported the matter and has denied interfering with the probe, the APC has raised allegations about the handling of the incident and called for a transparent investigation.

Until the police release their findings or a court makes a determination, claims that Babatunde deliberately staged his own kidnapping or sought to obtain money through the alleged abduction remain allegations.

Police Probe Alleged Self-Kidnapping of Adeleke’s Aide in Osun