The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four police officers after a viral video showing them making ethnically charged remarks during a stop-and-search operation provoked widespread public outrage and renewed concerns over police conduct in Nigeria.
The officers, whose identities have been confirmed by the command, were arrested on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, and are undergoing disciplinary investigation over allegations of misconduct, incivility and actions capable of undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
The video, which circulated widely on social media on Friday, captured a heated confrontation between the officers and a motorist reported to have recently returned from the United Kingdom along the Lagos–Benin Expressway.
During the exchange, the driver accused the officers of intimidation, attempted extortion and ethnic profiling after they stopped his vehicle for a search.
The encounter escalated when one of the officers was heard suggesting that the motorist would have been detained had he been of Igbo origin, a remark that drew widespread condemnation online and fuelled fresh debate over professionalism, accountability and ethnic bias within law enforcement.
The incident quickly gained traction across X and other social media platforms, where many Nigerians demanded sanctions against the officers and broader reforms to police stop-and-search operations.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed that all four officers featured in the video had been identified and taken into custody.
According to him, the officers are ASP Elomore Sodayo, Inspector Adefila Adewale, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi and Inspector Odusola Peter.
“The Command wishes to inform the general public that the officers captured in the video have been arrested,” Jimoh said.
He added that Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu had ordered “a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved.”
The police spokesman stressed that the Force would not tolerate behaviour capable of eroding public trust 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 said.Africans & Diaspora
He added that officers are required to conduct themselves professionally, respect the dignity of members of the public and comply strictly with the Force’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.
Jimoh assured Nigerians that the investigation would be conducted fairly and transparently and that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary action in accordance with established procedures.
“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,” he said.
The latest incident is the latest in a series of cases in which police authorities have taken disciplinary action following public complaints amplified by viral videos.
In recent months, the Nigeria Police Force has ordered investigations and sanctions against officers accused of harassment, extortion and misconduct after similar incidents attracted widespread public attention.
The Ondo State Police Command said it remains committed to intelligence-led, community-oriented policing and urged members of the public to continue reporting cases of police misconduct through established complaint channels.
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