The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed social media claims that a police inspector beaten by a mob in a viral video was caught stealing.
The video, which surfaced on Wednesday, showed the uniformed officer sitting on the ground, bleeding from the mouth as he was assaulted by a crowd who accused him of theft.
In a statement on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, described the allegation as false and misleading. She explained that the officer, attached to the Lagos State Taskforce, was on official assignment enforcing the ban on illegal parking along Brown Street in Oshodi.
According to her, the incident began when the inspector attempted to stop a motorist from parking unlawfully. The confrontation turned violent, and during the scuffle, the officer accidentally discharged his firearm, with debris from the impact injuring some passersby. This triggered the mob attack that left him severely injured.
Adebisi noted that the inspector has since been subjected to disciplinary measures for his unprofessional conduct. Meanwhile, 13 suspects identified in the video assaulting the officer have been arrested and are in custody. They are aged between 22 and 40 and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, condemned both the officer’s misconduct and the mob’s violent response. He stressed that attacking law enforcement officials on lawful duty is a criminal offence and warned that such acts will not be tolerated.
The command urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation and continue to support security agencies in maintaining peace and order across the state.