POLICE BRUTALITY: OGUN COMMAND IDENTIFIES OFFICERS SEEN BRUTALISING YOUNG MAN IN VIRAL VIDEO

The Ogun State Police Command has identified four officers captured in a viral video brutalising a young man and handcuffing both his hands and legs, ordering them to report to the command headquarters for disciplinary action.

The Ogun police officers brutalising young man viral video incident occurred in Ijagba, Sango-Ota, and has sparked public outrage just days before the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.

THE VIDEO

The footage, which circulated widely on social media on Saturday, showed the young man pinned to the ground with his hands and legs handcuffed, while four fully armed police officers stood around him.

A voice accompanying the footage alleged that the young man was arrested for wearing camouflage shorts, which is prohibited for civilians.

Residents who gathered at the scene resisted the officers’ attempt to force the man into a commercial minibus, demanding that the handcuffs be removed.

“Between you and these young men, who are the thieves? See the way they are beating someone’s child,” a woman was heard saying in the background.

The officers eventually abandoned the arrest and left the community.

THE POLICE RESPONSE

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that the officers involved had been identified.

“The officers involved have been identified, and the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, has ordered immediate action in line with established procedures,” Babaseyi said.

“The Command remains committed to accountability, professional discipline and the highest standards of policing. Further updates will be communicated as developments warrant”. He added that the four officers were already on their way to the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.

WHY IT MATTERS

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The incident comes just days before the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, which were sparked by widespread allegations of police brutality and extrajudicial killings by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

For many Nigerians, the video is a painful reminder that the issues that led to the protests have not been resolved. Police officers are still seen on camera brutalising citizens, and accountability remains a challenge.

The Ogun State Police Command’s swift identification of the officers is a positive step. But the real test will be whether they face meaningful sanctions or merely a reprimand.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the officers are on their way to the command headquarters. The investigation continues.