Lagos Police Accused Of Torturing Three Nigerian Legion Officers For ‘Wearing Face Mask’

Officers from the Lagos State Police Command are under investigation after being accused of torturing and assaulting three members of the Nigerian Legion Corps Commissionaire on Friday in the Ayobo area of Lagos.

Sources revealed to SaharaReporters that the incident unfolded when the legion officers, who were performing their official duties at a children’s end-of-year party near Gray Stone School, Samaria, Ipaja, were confronted by police officers. The officers allegedly accused one of the legionnaires of wearing a face mask in broad daylight, suspecting him of being an impostor.

Despite the legionnaires identifying themselves, the situation escalated when a police team arrived in a minibus and began beating the officers without any prior questioning. The officers were taken to the Ayobo Police Station, where the abuse reportedly continued.

According to witnesses, the legion officers, who were on duty and in full uniform, were treated with hostility and misidentified by the police. The police allegedly claimed they were unfamiliar with the operations of the Nigerian Legion Corps and further maltreated the officers.

This incident comes after a similar case in 2022, where a member of the Nigerian Legion, Koleoso Abayomi, was shot by police officers attached to the Ogombo Police Division in Lagos. Abayomi had been brutalized for allegedly delaying the officers’ access to a secured estate, before being shot in the thigh.

The recent assault has sparked outrage among members of the Nigerian Legion and civil rights groups, highlighting ongoing concerns over police misconduct. The incident is currently under investigation, with the officers involved facing potential disciplinary action.