The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four police officers captured in a viral video allegedly attempting to extort money from a motorist along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The incident, which sparked nationwide outrage, showed one of the officers allegedly threatening that he would have slapped and detained the traveller if he had been Igbo.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, drew condemnation from Nigerians, with many demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officers involved.
Confirming the development on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the officers had been identified and taken into custody.
According to him, the 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.
Jimoh said the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
“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.
“Consequently, 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,” Jimoh stated.
The police assured the public that the investigation would be thorough and that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against any officer found culpable.
