THE Lagos State Police Command has arrested Obic Modestus, a police officer caught on video violently assaulting an Uber driver.
The incident came to light after a video, shared by X user Oyindamola (@dammiedammie35), went viral, showing the officer repeatedly beating the driver.
In the post accompanying the video, Oyindamola wrote, “A new video of Nigerian police men violently assault!ng an Uber driver. Please spread this video cos this is someone’s father they’re beating!ng like an animal like this.”
Although The ICIR couldn’t confirm the exact cause of the incident, the video showed how the police officer was slapping, manhandling and beating the driver.
He subsequently dragged the driver into the police vehicle despite some of his colleagues calming him down.
The disturbing footage sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many users calling for the officer to be held accountable.
They also lamented the incessant harassment meted out on citizens by the police officers across the country.
Reacting to the viral video on Monday, May 19, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the officer had been apprehended.
Hundeyin assured the public that the command was committed to maintaining professional conduct among its officers and would take necessary disciplinary action against any form of misconduct.
“The Police Officer, Inspector Obic Modestus, has been summoned by the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) #LagosPoliceNG. He will be handed over to the Provost Department for appropriate disciplinary measures.
“The Lagos State Police Command, under CP Olohundare Jimoh, will not condone any form of incivility to members of the public,” he said.
This incident adds to a series of reported cases of police misconduct in Nigeria, highlighting ongoing concerns about law enforcement accountability.
Despite the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2020 following the #EndSARS protests, reports of police brutality have persisted.
The latest incident came barely two weeks after The ICIR published a detailed investigation of police brutality in Kwara State. The report highlighted how the killings of Quoyum Ishola, allegedly by police officers in the state, added to a disturbing trend of young men in Kwara, particularly those perceived as successful or ‘flashy,’ increasingly targeted by law enforcement officers.
This latest incident has further reignited fears around police brutality in Nigeria, with citizens expressing frustration over repeated cases of law enforcement officers using excessive force on them.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M