Police probe viral video alleging assault of Lagos gold seller by officers
Lagos Police Investigate Alleged Assault by Officers
The Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into a viral video depicting an alleged assault of a gold seller by police officers in the Festac area of Lagos.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday and gained significant attention on Saturday after the victim shared footage claiming he was assaulted while delivering a gold necklace to a customer.
According to a statement released on the police command’s official X account, the officers featured in the video have been identified as personnel from the Area E Command.
In the videos, the victim asserts he was stopped and searched by the officers, who allegedly found no incriminating items. Instead, they questioned a digital scale he was carrying for weighing gold. He claims the officers accused him of using the scale for weighing cannabis and ordered him to accompany them to the police station.
The victim expressed concern over the officers’ attire, noting they were not wearing standard police uniforms and that their vehicle lacked a registration number. He further alleged that the officers attempted to forcibly place him in their vehicle, struck him on the head with a firearm, and physically assaulted him.
The footage shows a brief confrontation outside a red minibus, culminating in the victim displaying an injury near his eye along with the gold necklace he was delivering at the time of the incident. A subsequent video surfaced online in which the victim claimed one officer instructed his colleagues to open fire before they fled the scene.
In response to the videos, the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the identification of the officers involved and their summoning for investigation.
“The Lagos State Police Command has seen the video and has commenced an investigation into the incident. The officers involved have been identified as personnel attached to Area E Command,” the statement read.
Additionally, Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai has directed the Area Commander to present the officers at the Command Headquarters for further inquiry and necessary action.
