Lagos Police identify officer strangling uber driver

The Lagos State Police Command has identified the policeman filmed in a viral video strangling an Uber driver who was in motion on a highway.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a post on X.com on Thursday, stating that the officer serves in the Mosafejo Division of the command.

Hundeyin wrote, “The officer has been identified. He serves in the Mosafejo Division. We would appreciate the testimony of the driver to enable us to take further necessary actions.”

He further condemned both the driver and the policeman for behaving in a “reckless manner,” as he faulted the driver for “abducting” the officer.

He added, “Both men obviously behaved in a reckless manner. But let us start from the beginning.

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“Why choose to abduct a policeman despite his dangerous method of attempting to stop you? You remained hell-bent on taking him away against his wish.”

The Nigeria Police Force’s Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had earlier called for an investigation into the viral video which showed the police officer holding the driver’s neck while a lady in the car screamed for help.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Adegoke Fayoade, has reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria’s economic capital.

He said this as he received the executive members of the Lagos Chapter of the Alumni Association of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, at the command headquarters.

Fayoade, who is also an alumnus of the institution, said policing Lagos, with a population of about 20 million people, was not a tea party but required effective strategy and coordination of the security architecture.

He said, “We work very hard to reduce the crime rate in Lagos by putting in place solid security architecture to enable the police force to respond promptly to incidences of crime and violence.”

Speaking further, he informed the AANI Lagos Chapter executives that the police have curbed the rate of road traffic robbery within the state and the activities of ‘one-chance’ robbery.

On the incidence of kidnapping, he also disclosed that significant arrests of kingpins had been recorded recently in Ijede, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He assured that the work rate of police officers in Lagos has improved tremendously and that there has been increased sensitisation on the best approach to police-citizen relations.

The Chairman of AANI Lagos Chapter, Omolara Balogun, who led the executives, said the courtesy visit was an opportunity to celebrate a fellow distinguished alumnus and explore ways of collaboration to strengthen the security architecture of Lagos.

She acknowledged that “Security” is one of the key pillars of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda and is critical to the stability of Lagos.

“We are here to work with you as an alumnus of our prestigious institution, offering support and exploring ways to strengthen the ongoing efforts to secure Lagos state and improve policing,” she added.