Lagos police identify cop strangling Uber driver in viral video

The Lagos State Police Command has addressed a viral video showing a police officer engaging in a physical altercation with a driver in a moving vehicle, saying the cop has been identified.

The footage, which went viral on social media platforms on Thursday, captured the officer wrestling with the Uber driver while the car was in motion.

The struggle escalated, with the officer appearing to choke the driver and a woman in the car yelling for him to stop. The vehicle then came to a sudden stop.

Reacting to the video, Lagos State Police Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a tweet on X, condemned the actions of both individuals, saying, “Both men obviously behaved in a reckless manner. But let us start from the beginning. Why choose to abduct a policeman despite his dangerous method of attempting to stop you? You remained hellbent on taking him away against his wish.”

Hundeyin also disclosed that the officer involved in the incident had been identified, adding that the officer serves in the Mosafejo Division.

Hundeyin, however, appealed for the driver’s cooperation, stating, “We would appreciate the testimony of the driver to enable us to take further necessary actions.”

Hundeyin’s response to the situation sparked a brief online exchange between him and his Delta State counterpart, SP Bright Edafe. Edafe, who referred to Hundeyin as his “boss,” suggested that the Lagos State Spokesman would likely be criticised by the public for placing blame on the driver.

“Get ready to be dragged boss, because these people can’t find fault with the driver. Well, we will correct and deal with our own in our way,” Edafe tweeted.

Hundeyin humorously replied to Edafe, saying, “In fact, I did like ten push-ups, punched the air a couple of times, and took a deep breath before tapping ‘post’ because I know an avalanche of dragging is coming.”

Netizens have reacted, with @ugo_himself tweeting, ”This is very funny. Don’t you see how other countries handle things? Somehow you managed to fix all the blame on the driver even though we know the policeman did not act in a professional manner. So he can’t call for backup? Or is there no backup in the police force? Maybe he was thinking they would ask him to pay for petrol money to take swift action and double-cross the driver.”

@FS_Yusuf_ tweeted, “You are asking an antelope running for safety from a lion why it’s getting the lion to keep chasing after it?”

@Kelvingmg_ tweeted, “’We would appreciate the testimony of the driver’ so this video isn’t pictorial evidence enough to hold your officer accountable for excessive use of force and endangerment of public safety? You all are funny to me.”