The arrested police officers
The Ondo State Police Command said it has arrested four police officers seen in a viral video making “unprofessional and ethnically insensitive” remarks to a motorist during a roadside stop on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
In the viral video, one of the officers appeared to solicit a bribe from the motorist and made an ethnic remark after the driver refused to pay. The officer is seen repeatedly asking the motorist to leave the scene without stating any traffic offence.
According to a statement on Friday, the arrested officers are: “AP/No. 207454, ASP Elomore Sodayo; AP/No. 332012, Inspector Adefila Adewale; AP/No. 332449, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi; and AP/No. 332369, Inspector Odusola Peter.”
During the exchange, the officer said, “I just see that we are very close. If you were Igbo or another person, I would have just I’d have asked you to park…” before gesturing toward the roadside. The police command said the officers involved had been taken into custody while a full investigation had commenced.
Speaking at the command headquarters in Akure on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, said the police had zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct. He added that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved.
Ohagwu said the police remained a disciplined and professional institution that would not condone misconduct, incivility or any action capable of undermining public confidence in the Force. He added that officers were expected to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, respect human dignity and comply strictly with the Force’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution that does not condone any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence, promoting ethnic division, or bringing the Force into disrepute,” the commissioner said.
He assured the public that the investigation would be conducted to determine the facts of the case, adding that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.
