Police officers face sanction for demanding bribe from Lagos drone operator

Two Police officers seen on viral video demanding bribes from a drone operator on Ikoyi/Lekki bridge are to be sanctioned accordingly. Spokesperson for Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this development in a statement yesterday.

The two officers said to be attached to MOPOL 49 were spotted on the video demanding a permit from the drone operator, and thereafter, resorted to demanding bribes from the man since he could not produce a permit to operate a drone.

According to Hundeyin, the police officers acted within the ambit of the law but added that their actions became unprofessional when they resorted to demanding bribes from the operator as seen at the tail end of the video. He said: “For that element of unprofessionalism, the officers will be disciplined.

“In response to a now viral video showing two police officers demanding a drone permit from a drone operating individual on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the Lagos State Police Command wishes to clarify that the police officers acted within the ambit of the law to demand to see a permit.

“For emphasis, Nigerian aviation laws stipulate that a permit must be obtained from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the operation of drones weighing more than 250 grams anywhere within the country.

“Nonetheless, the Lagos State Police Command totally condemns the unprofessional conduct of the officers in attempting to extort the drone operator as can be seen in the concluding part of the video.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Adegoke Fayoade, has, therefore, directed the Commanding Officer of 49 PMF Akodo, from whose squadron the police officers were duly posted to the bridge, to produce the men for appropriate disciplinary actions,” Hundeyin said.