Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into a disturbing viral video that shows officers attached to Area E Command allegedly assaulting a gold seller in the Festac area of Lagos, following a confrontation over a digital scale that the officers suspected was being used to weigh cannabis. The incident, which reportedly occurred on Friday, July 31, 2026, gained widespread attention on Saturday after the victim shared multiple videos online detailing his ordeal, prompting the police to identify and summon the officers involved.
According to the victim, who has not been publicly named, he was in Festac to deliver a gold necklace to a customer when he was stopped and searched by the officers. The officers found nothing incriminating on him but became suspicious when they discovered a digital scale he used for measuring gold. The officers accused him of using the scale to weigh cannabis and ordered him to accompany them to the police station. The gold seller stated that he refused to go because he had committed no offence and because the officers were not properly dressed in police uniforms and were driving an unregistered vehicle.
Following his refusal, the situation escalated into a physical confrontation. The victim alleged that the officers dragged him in an attempt to force him into their vehicle, struck him on the head with a gun, and physically assaulted him. One of the viral videos captured a tense outdoor struggle near a red commercial minibus, while another showed the victim displaying a fresh injury near his eye and holding the gold necklace he was delivering at the time of the incident. In a follow-up video that later surfaced online, the gold seller made an even more alarming claim, alleging that one of the officers instructed his colleagues to open fire during the altercation before they fled the scene.
The videos quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread outrage and calls for accountability. Reacting to the public outcry, the Lagos State Police Command, in a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, confirmed that it had commenced an investigation into the incident. The command stated that the officers captured in the video had been identified as personnel attached to Area E Command. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, has directed the Area Commander to immediately produce the officers at the Command Headquarters for further investigation and appropriate action.
The police also urged the victim to contact the Command's Complaint Response Unit to assist with the ongoing investigation. The statement read: "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 Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, has directed the Area Commander to immediately produce the officers at the Command Headquarters for further investigation and appropriate action. The individual featured in the video is kindly urged to contact the Command's Complaint Response Unit on 09111111150 or 09111111151 to assist with the ongoing investigation."
The incident has once again highlighted the persistent issue of police brutality and extortion in Nigeria, where officers often target citizens under the guise of stop-and-search operations. The victim's claim that he was assaulted over a digital scale, and that the officers were not properly dressed and driving an unregistered vehicle, raises serious questions about the professionalism and conduct of the officers involved. The case also underscores the growing role of social media in exposing police misconduct and forcing authorities to act, as the viral nature of the videos compelled the police to respond swiftly.
As the investigation unfolds, the public will be watching closely to see whether the police command takes decisive action against the officers involved. The Lagos State Police Command has a history of responding to public outrage with promises of investigation, but critics have often pointed to a lack of follow-through and accountability. The gold seller's case will be a test of whether the police are willing to hold their own accountable and restore public confidence in the force.
For now, the gold seller, who sustained visible injuries during the assault, awaits justice, while the officers implicated in the incident face an uncertain future as the investigation continues. The outcome of this case will send a strong signal about the commitment of the Lagos State Police Command to address misconduct within its ranks and protect the rights of citizens.
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