The Lagos State Police Command has ordered the prosecution of an entire team of police officers seen in a viral video assaulting a suspect who was resisting arrest.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, ordered the immediate commencement of an orderly room trial of the entire team of the errant police officers.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday signed by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the force public relations officer.
Narrating the cause of the assault on the victim, the statement disclosed that the Alausa Division of the Lagos State Command, having received numerous complaints on the flagrant abuse of hard drugs on Makinde Odewale Street, Oregun, mobilised some officers on July 2, 2024, to arrest the drug users and dealers.
“They, however, met stiff resistance, leading to serious injury to one inspector of police, who was stabbed in the head with a broken bottle, and assault on the Olu of Alausa and CDA Chairman. The injured inspector has since been hospitalised.
Nonetheless, a reinforcement team succeeded in arresting some suspects with substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
“Regrettably, the reinforcement team, in their bid to ensure the arrest of the mastermind of the attack on the police officer, resorted to unprofessional, unethical, and uncouth methods, which were captured on video.”
The CP, who totally condemns the actions of the officers, noted that their actions negate “the values and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police.”
He equally condemned the actions of the youths in attacking the officers, warning that any person found culpable in this regard would definitely be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Furthermore, the Command assures Lagosians that it will not relent in delivering on its mandates of maintenance of law and order, prevention and detection of crime, apprehension, and prosecution of criminals, amongst others.