As Nigerian youths and organisations prepare to commemorate the #EndSARS protests against police brutality, a viral video showing police officers reportedly molesting a young man in Ogun State has sparked concerns over police conduct.
The video, which circulated on social media on Saturday showed officers attempting to arrest the youth in the Ijagba area of Ota in the state.
The young man was seen pinned to the ground with his wrists handcuffed as the officers made efforts to arrest him, while residents in the area confronted the policemen over their treatment of the young man.
In the video seen on Tik Tok and X, a voice was heard questioning the officers’ actions, saying, “Between you (police officers) and these young men, who are the thieves?”
“See the way they (police officers) are beating someone’s child,” the lady’s voice added.
Another woman was heard appealing for help, shouting, “Please come to my aid everyone!”
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Police Command said it had identified the officers involved and ordered immediate action against them.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said this in a terse obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, had directed action in line with established procedures.
“The officers involved have been identified, and the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, has ordered immediate action in line with established procedures,” he wrote.
“The Command remains committed to accountability, professional discipline and the highest standards of policing,” Babaseyi added.
He said further updates would be communicated as developments warranted.
The incident comes as Nigerians prepare to mark the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests on October 20, following the nationwide protests against police brutality in October 2020.
The police brutality was particularly abuses attributed to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protests drew nationwide and international attention to concerns of extrajudicial killings, torture, extortion and other abuses by police officers, prompting calls for accountability and comprehensive police reforms.
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