How 22-Year-Old Phone Repairer’s Video Led to Arrest of Four Lagos Police Officers
Kehinde Adeleye
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four officers over alleged harassment and extortion of a 22-year-old phone repairer, Daniel Oke, in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, following the circulation of a viral video of the incident.
Oke, who operates a small phone repair shop in the area, said he was stopped by operatives of the Immortal Tactical Team at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday while walking home from work.
According to him, the officers, who were travelling in a minibus, demanded to search his phone and questioned him about his appearance and possession of a power bank.
“They asked for my phone, I gave them. They started checking my gallery, my WhatsApp. They were asking me why I have dreadlocks, why I am carrying a power bank. They were shouting, pushing me, saying I am a Yahoo boy,” he told PM EXPRESS.
Oke said he discreetly alerted a friend nearby to record the encounter because he feared for his safety and wanted evidence of what was happening.
He explained that he was not trying to disrespect the officers but wanted to protect himself in case the situation escalated.
The 45-second video reportedly captured the officers threatening to take him to their station if he failed to cooperate and allegedly demanding money for his release.
The footage was posted on X on Monday night and circulated across several WhatsApp groups in Ikorodu. It subsequently attracted widespread attention and prompted calls for an investigation.
Acting on the incident, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai ordered the identification and arrest of the officers seen in the video.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed in a statement on Friday evening that four officers had been identified, arrested and detained at the State Police Headquarters in Ikeja.
Adebisi said the commissioner had also ordered the immediate disbandment of the entire tactical team pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.
She said the officers would face an Orderly Room Trial and could be dismissed and prosecuted if found guilty.
According to her, the police command maintains zero tolerance for extortion and harassment.
For Oke, the response was unexpected. He said he initially feared that the police wanted to arrest him again when he received a call from the Police Public Relations Office.
However, he said the officers contacted him to acknowledge his complaint and invite him to make a formal statement.
His mother, Bose Oke, a trader at Sabo Market in Ikorodu, said she was initially frightened when she saw the video online.
She recalled that her son returned home with his shirt torn and showed her the footage. She said she had urged him to delete it because she feared possible retaliation.
She added that the police response had changed her perspective, making her proud that her son had spoken out.
The incident has renewed calls for improved police accountability, including the use of body-worn cameras by tactical teams, better human rights training and clear identification of officers on patrol.
Human rights lawyer and convener of Ikorodu Youths for Justice, Tunde Ladipo, described Oke’s decision to document the encounter as courageous.
He said recording alleged misconduct could provide valuable evidence and commended the commissioner for ordering swift action.
Despite the police response, Oke said he was still dealing with the physical effects of the encounter, including bruises on his left arm where he alleged he had been dragged.
He said he did not seek revenge but wanted officers to treat young people with respect, regardless of their appearance.
“I don’t hate police. Many of them are good. I just want them to respect us. We are not criminals because we are young or because we have dreadlocks. We are just trying to survive in Lagos. I want this to make other policemen change,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Command has urged residents who experience similar incidents to report them through its Complaint Response Unit.
