The police have reacted to a viral CCTV footage allegedly revealing officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit pilfering mobile phones from a barbershop in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The viral footage said to have been recorded on March 22, 2025, displays police officers walking into a shop owned by one Seketi Adebowale, and stealing phones left by customers to charge.
Describing the incident, Adebowale stated that , “In each of the videos, a policeman walks in and takes phones from where they were being charged. I received a mobile alert about intruders and checked the footage, which revealed that the individuals were from SWAT Akure. Expecting them to tamper with the camera, I quickly removed it for safekeeping.”
The incident allegedly happened in the thick of community unrest over the arrest of a Navy captain, Jide Falade, after a misunderstanding with the local king. Protests erupted following Falade’s detention, with SWAT officers allegedly dispersing protesters with tear gas and live ammunition.
Adebowale noted that the king led SWAT officers to specific homes and shops in the community, including his barbershop, which was subsequently destroyed.
“Early Saturday morning, my shop was targeted despite the presence of CCTV footage that captured the culprits. The police further assaulted residents, including men, women, and children, and even killed animals,” he said
In another video, a woman and a boy were seen displaying injuries allegedly inflicted by the police. The woman recounted, “They kicked the door open and came in. They cut my son with a cutlass and used the blunt part to beat me. One of them threatened to slash my head. I told him to go ahead and kill me. He said he would kill me, but one of them stopped him.”
Responding to public outrage, the Nigeria Police Force said it is aware of the footage and has launched an internal investigation to identify the officers involved and address the misconduct.
The force assured the public that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action, reiterating its commitment to upholding professionalism and accountability.
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