VIRAL VIDEO: Alleged Unguarded Utterance Puts Police Operatives in Quandary
By Olusegun HOSEA
An alleged unguarded utterance has put four Police operatives in a quandary in Ondo State over a viral social media video involving them and members of the public. Disclosing this today, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the officers were arrested over alleged unprofessional misconduct during the discharge of their duties.
Briefing journalists, DSP Abayomi said the Command was aware of the “viral video circulating on social media showing some police officers on stop-and-search duty along the Lagos–Benin Expressway allegedly making unprofessional and ethnically insensitive remarks to a member of the public.”
He explained that the officers captured in the video had been arrested. “The Command wishes to inform the general public that the officers captured in the video have been arrested and identified as 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.” He explained that the Commissioner of Police had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, psc, mnips, mspsp, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved.”
According to him, DSP Abayomi said, “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. Officers are expected at all times to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, respect for human dignity, and in strict compliance with the Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.”
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to a transparent investigation of the matter, assuring the general public that “the outcome of the investigation will be guided by the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability. Any officer found to have acted contrary to the ethics and standards of the Nigeria Police Force will be subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with the law and established disciplinary procedures.”
He said the Ondo State Police Command urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and continue to cooperate with the police by reporting any incident of misconduct through established complaint channels.
