Lagos CP detains four officers, disbands tactical team over viral video

By Adebola Muili

The Lagos State Police Command has detained four police officers and disbanded its Immortal Tactical Team in Ikorodu following a viral video showing personnel allegedly harassing a young man in the Odogunyo area of the community.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, ordered the officers’ detention pending disciplinary proceedings, while the entire tactical team was disbanded as part of measures to address the incident.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a video statement on Friday, October 23, while giving an update on the incident, adding that the officers had been summoned to the commissioner’s office on Thursday after the video came to the command’s attention.

Adebisi said the command immediately investigated the video and identified the individuals involved as personnel attached to the Immortal Tactical Team in Ikorodu.

She explained that the officers were summoned to the commissioner’s office, where the decision was taken to detain them pending disciplinary proceedings and disband the team.

“They are presently here at the headquarters for further inquiries, and I want to assure members of the public that we will take appropriate actions against them,” she said.

The police spokesperson confirmed that four officers were involved, although only three were presented during the briefing. She said the fourth officer was also in custody.

Adebisi said the action reflected the command’s commitment to accountability and its rejection of impunity, noting that Fatai had directed personnel to discharge their duties with integrity and humility.

She added that the command would take action against officers found to have acted contrary to established directives, assuring the public that no personnel found culpable would be shielded from accountability.

In a separate update, the command reiterated that the police uniform was not a licence to intimidate, harass or violate the rights of any citizen.

“No uniform is a licence to intimidate, harass, or violate the rights of any citizen,” the statement said, describing the uniform as a symbol of service, trust and responsibility.

The command acknowledged the anger and concern generated by the incident, assuring residents that it remained committed to protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring that officers who abused their authority faced the consequences.

Adebisi also commended residents for their cooperation and the community for helping to identify the officers, saying their prompt intervention enabled the command to apprehend the personnel within a short period.

She urged Lagos residents to continue reporting cases of police misconduct, stressing that public cooperation was essential to promoting accountability and ensuring that officers adhered to professional standards.