Police Arrest 13 Suspects In Viral Video Beating Officer

The Lagos State Police Command has clarified the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing a police inspector being assaulted by a mob in Oshodi, dismissing social media claims that the officer was caught stealing.

The footage, shared on X by user Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) with the caption “He Was Accused Of Stealing. A Nigerian Police Officer Beaten By Mob”, began circulating widely on Wednesday.

In the clip, the officer—bleeding from the mouth—appears distressed as he is surrounded by an irate crowd.

Despite being in uniform, he is seen pleading for help while several onlookers film the incident with their phones.

Though voices in the background repeatedly accuse him of stealing, the specific details of the alleged offence were not made known.

The video also shows another police officer attempting to push through the mob to rescue his colleague, even as the crowd continues chanting “Ole!” (thief), with commercial buses and tricycles inching past the chaotic scene.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, the incident occurred while the inspector, attached to the Lagos State Taskforce, was enforcing the state government’s ban on wrong parking along Brown Street, Oshodi.

Trouble reportedly began when the officer stopped a motorist attempting to park illegally.

The driver became violent, leading to a heated confrontation. In the process, the inspector accidentally discharged shots onto the road, and debris from the impact struck some passersby.

This triggered anger, resulting in the officer being beaten severely by the mob.

“The Inspector in question is an officer attached to the Lagos State Taskforce. He was on official duty enforcing the State Government’s ban on wrong parking along Brown Street, Oshodi.

“In the course of his duty, he stopped a motorist who attempted to park wrongly. The motorist became violent, resulting in a heated confrontation. During the incident, the Inspector accidentally discharged shots onto the road, and debris from the impact affected some passersby.

“The mob immediately gathered, during which the Inspector was violently attacked and sustained serious injuries,” Adebisi stated.

She said the officer has been subjected to disciplinary action for his “unprofessional conduct.”

“Thirteen (13) suspects captured in the viral video assaulting the officer have been arrested, currently in police custody, and will be prosecuted upon the completion of investigations,” Adebisi added.

The arrested suspects include: Dele Oriade (39), Adekunle Olalere (40), Mudashiru Olamilekan (28), Anayo Achusie (34), Joshua Enwonyin (24), Okoro Okechukwu (26), Rilwan Lateef (32), Damilare Odebode (22), Haruna Aleshi (25), Sodiq Omoniyi (26), Chukwudi Patience (25), Godstime Okafor (26), and Chinedu Divine (29).

Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, condemned both the inspector’s actions and the mob attack, warning that the Command will not tolerate assaults on officers performing lawful duties.

The Command urged members of the public to desist from spreading misinformation and to cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order across Lagos.