The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four police inspectors captured in a viral video allegedly demanding a bribe and making an ethnic remark during a stop-and-search operation along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The command said the officers have been taken into custody and are undergoing investigation following widespread public outrage triggered by the footage circulating on social media.
Speaking with journalists in Akure on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, identified the officers as Inspector Elomore Sodayo, Inspector Adefila Adewale, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi and Inspector Odusola Peter.
The viral video showed a confrontation between one of the officers and a motorist said to be a United Kingdom returnee.
In the footage, the officer was seen inspecting the driver’s documents before allegedly withholding his driver’s licence and telling him, “Go and do better thing make you de go,” a statement widely interpreted as a solicitation for a bribe.
When the motorist demanded the return of his licence and questioned why it was being withheld, the officer allegedly replied:
“…If it’s another person or Igbo or another… I’ll go and keep him there,” while pointing towards a distant location, a remark that sparked allegations of ethnic profiling and abuse of office.
Confirming the officers’ arrest, Jimoh said the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, had ordered a full-scale investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the level of culpability of each officer.
“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 said.
The police spokesman stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to professionalism and would not tolerate misconduct capable of eroding public confidence or promoting ethnic division.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution that does not condone any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence, promoting ethnic division, or bringing the Force into disrepute,” he stated.
Jimoh added that officers are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect for human dignity in line with the Force’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.
He assured Nigerians that the investigation would be conducted fairly and transparently.
“The Command assures members of the public that the outcome of the investigation will be guided by the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.
“Any officer found to have acted contrary to the ethics and standards of the Nigeria Police Force will be subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with the law and established disciplinary procedures,” he added.
The spokesperson reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professional, intelligence-driven and community-oriented policing, while urging members of the public to continue reporting cases of police misconduct through established complaint channels.
The latest action comes less than a year after the Ondo State Police Command sanctioned eight officers over various cases of professional misconduct following complaints from members of the public.
