The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the immediate prosecution of police officers captured in a viral video brutally assaulting a suspect during a drug raid on July 2, 2024, in the Oregun area of the state.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Wednesday, the officers’ actions were deemed “unprofessional and unethical”.
The raid, intended to apprehend drug users and dealers, turned violent when the police encountered resistance.
The statement also disclosed that an inspector was stabbed in the head with a broken bottle, and the Olu of Alausa and CDA Chairman were assaulted.
While condemning the actions of the youth who attacked the police, Fayoade also criticised the reinforcement team’s unprofessional and unethical methods, which were captured on video.
The statement read, “Alausa Division of the Lagos State Police 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.
“CP Fayoade totally condemns the actions of the police officers as those actions are not in tandem with the values and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police.
“He equally condemns the actions of the youth in attacking police officers, warning that any person found culpable in this regard would definitely be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
The Lagos State Police Command promises to maintain law and order, prevent and detect crime, and apprehend and prosecute criminals, while ensuring that officers uphold professional ethics
