Etim Effiong
Lagos State Police Command has denied a trending video accusing policemen attached to Ogudu Area Command of harassment, excessive use of power and attempted extortion.
The video was released on Friday.
The command, however, refuted the allegations and urged the public to regard the video as mischievous, baseless and an attempt to paint the police black.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, noted that a team of Anti-Crime patrol from Area ‘H’, Ogudu, intercepted a Chevrolet saloon car with number plate SMK 436 DE, with three occupants, on Ogudu Expressway, Lagos State.
He added that the tinted glasses of the vehicle aroused suspicion of the patrol team; and attempts to get the occupants identified were rebuffed, as they refused to alight or wind down the glasses of the vehicle for identification.
The PPRO said, “To set the record straight, on Friday 25/9/2020, around 9.30am, a team of Anti-Crime patrol from Area ‘H’, Ogudu, intercepted a Chevrolet saloon car with number plate SMK 436 DE, with three occupants, on Ogudu Expressway, Lagos State. The glasses, front and back, of the vehicle were fully tinted, which aroused the suspicion of the patrol team; and effort to get the occupants identified was rebuffed, as they refused to get off or wind down the glasses of the car.
“In a bid to detect and identify the occupants for security reasons coupled with the police’s experience on criminals’ modus operandi, the patrol team called for a reinforcement and eventually, the three occupants were arrested and the vehicle towed to the station at Ogudu. The occupants were identified as Okoh Miracle, ‘m,’ 18; Awodoyin Mayokun, ‘m,’ 24, and Shonaike Adebola, ‘m,’ 20.
“During the search on them and the car, the police recovered a wrap of weed suspected to be Indian hemp and some charms.”
He said that the state Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
According to him, the commissioner also reiterated that in as much as the police will uphold the rule of law, protect human rights and dignity, it will not condone dissemination or spread of fake, unfounded or malicious news to malign the image of the Nigeria Police or create security threats in the state.