Police Detain 4 Officers Over Viral Ethnic Profiling Video on Lagos–Benin Expressway

Police Detain 4 Officers Over Viral Ethnic Profiling Video on Lagos–Benin Expressway

Ondo State Police Command arrests ASP and three Inspectors after footage sparks nationwide outrage over alleged ethnically offensive remarks and extortion attempt

The Ondo State Police Command has taken four police officers into custody following widespread public condemnation over a viral video that allegedly captured them making ethnically offensive remarks during a stop-and-search operation on the busy Lagos–Benin Expressway. The footage, which surfaced online on Friday, shows a heated exchange between the officers and a motorist believed to be a United Kingdom returnee, with the driver challenging the officers’ attempt to stop and search his vehicle and accusing them of intimidation, ethnic profiling, and attempting to extort money from him. The confrontation escalated after one of the officers allegedly told the driver that he would have been detained if he were of Igbo extraction—a statement that has drawn sharp criticism from Nigerians across social media platforms and reignited calls for police accountability and disciplinary action against erring officers.

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Speaking with journalists in Akure on Friday, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed that the officers seen in the video have been identified and arrested on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, with the detained officers identified as ASP Elomore Sodayo, Inspector Adefila Adewale, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi, and Inspector Odusola Peter. Jimoh further stated that the Commissioner has ordered a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the incident and to determine the level of culpability of each officer involved, ensuring that no aspect of the encounter is left unexamined.

In his statement, Jimoh emphasised that the Nigeria Police Force remains a disciplined and professional institution that does not tolerate any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence or promoting ethnic division, adding that officers are expected at all times to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, respect for human dignity, and in strict compliance with the Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures. He further assured the public that the investigation would be handled with fairness, transparency, and accountability, stressing that any officer found to have acted contrary to the ethics and standards of the Nigeria Police Force will be subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with the law and established disciplinary procedures.

The Ondo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led, community-focused policing and encouraged residents to report cases of police misconduct through the appropriate complaint channels, as the incident has once again brought the issue of ethnic profiling and police brutality in Nigeria to the forefront, with many Nigerians calling for systemic reforms within the force to prevent future occurrences and restore public trust in law enforcement institutions.