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CP Olohundare Jimoh Moshood, Lagos State Commissioner of Police
The Lagos State Police Command has dissolved one of its tactical squads after operatives were captured in a trending video assaulting a motorist during a stop-and-search operation.
The video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user, Somto, with the handle #General_Somto, showed a motorist being stopped by officers who attempted to remove his glasses, suspected to have a video camera feature.
The confrontation escalated, with one of the officers seen hitting the man.
Reacting on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh Moshood, had taken swift disciplinary action against the officers.
Hundeyin wrote, “Following a thorough preliminary investigation, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered the immediate detention of the entire team.
“The officers will face an orderly room trial in line with established disciplinary procedures to ensure justice is served swiftly and transparently.
“In addition, the entire Tactical Squad implicated in this matter has been dissolved with immediate effect.
“A new Tactical Squad has been constituted, comprising officers who will adhere strictly to international best practices in policing.
“This new unit will operate with zero tolerance for corruption, while upholding the highest standards of respect for human rights and human dignity.”
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force, in a statement posted on its official X page, condemned the conduct of the officers.
The Force wrote, “We strongly condemn the actions of some officers captured in a viral video attempting to forcibly remove a pair of glasses from a motorist during a stop-and-search operation, and further assaulting him.
“The officers involved have been identified as personnel attached to the Lagos State Police Command.
“The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Lagos State Command has been contacted and has swiftly acted appropriately to ensure that the officers face commensurate disciplinary actions.
“He has equally ordered for the restructuring of the squad involved.” (Saturday PUNCH)
