The Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into the alleged assault of a gold trader by police officers after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The video, shared on X by a user identified as @ChuksEricE, showed the victim accusing officers of assaulting him in the Festac area of Lagos.
According to the trader, he was on his way to deliver a gold necklace when he was stopped and searched by the officers.
He said although nothing incriminating was found, the officers allegedly discovered a weighing scale used for his gold business and accused him of using it to measure cannabis.
The victim claimed the officers ordered him to accompany them to the police station, but he refused, insisting he had committed no offence.
He further alleged that the officers, who he said were not properly dressed in police uniforms and arrived in an unregistered bus, attempted to force him into the vehicle.
According to him, one of the officers struck him on the head with a gun before he was allegedly beaten.
Reacting to the viral video, the Lagos State Police Command said it had commenced an investigation into the allegations.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday, the command said the officers involved had been identified as personnel attached to Area E Command.
It added that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, had directed the Area Commander to produce the officers immediately at the command headquarters for investigation and appropriate disciplinary action.
The command also appealed to the victim to assist with the investigation by contacting its Complaint Response Unit (CRU) through the dedicated telephone lines.
The police assured members of the public that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary measures in accordance with the law and the Force’s regulations.