Police to sanction officers in viral Lagos harassment video

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced plans to discipline officers seen in a viral video allegedly harassing two young men in the Abulado area of Lagos.

The video, shared by a user on X, shows officers—reportedly conducting a stop-and-search operation—attempting to inspect the bags of the two individuals while allegedly threatening them.

In the footage, one of the young men is heard saying in Pidgin English: “I have never seen a police officer carry a driver to one side to search him away from where his car is parked on the road.”

Providing an update on Saturday, the Police Complaint Response Unit said the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Satellite Town, Lagos, to present the officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on April 8 for disciplinary proceedings.

The police confirmed that the officers involved have been identified and will face appropriate sanctions.

“Dear members of the public, the policemen in the viral video have been identified and appropriate disciplinary actions await them accordingly. We seek your support and trust as we fight impunity to a standstill,” the statement read.

The incident was reportedly recorded using smart eyeglasses worn by one of the young men.

The development comes amid growing attention to citizens’ rights during police encounters. In March, a Federal High Court ruled that Nigerians have the right to record police officers during stop-and-search operations in public spaces.

The ruling followed a fundamental rights suit filed by lawyer Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo against the IGP, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation after he was allegedly harassed by officers in Edo State.

Presiding judge Hyeladzira Nganjiwa declared that “anonymous policing is unconstitutional,” affirming that citizens have the constitutional right to record officers performing their duties in public.

The court further held that it is unlawful for police to harass, intimidate, arrest, or confiscate devices from individuals for recording them.

The police have yet to disclose further details regarding the specific disciplinary measures to be taken against the officers involved.