Four Police Officers Arrested as Ethnic Bias Video Sparks Outrage

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four police officers after a viral video showed them making ethnically insensitive remarks and behaving unprofessionally during a stop-and-search operation along the Lagos–Benin Expressway. The incident triggered widespread public outrage, prompting the command to immediately identify and detain the officers for investigation.

The officers were identified as ASP Elomore Sodayo, Inspector Adefila Adewale, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi, and Inspector Odusola Peter. According to the police, disciplinary and administrative investigations have commenced to determine the appropriate sanctions, while assuring the public that misconduct within the Force will not be tolerated.

The viral footage captured a heated exchange between the officers and a motorist, reportedly a United Kingdom returnee, who accused them of intimidation, attempted extortion and ethnic profiling. During the confrontation, one of the officers allegedly remarked that the driver would have been detained if he were of Igbo origin, sparking condemnation across social media.

The Ondo Police Command apologised for the officers' conduct and reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, discipline and respect for the rights of all Nigerians regardless of ethnic background. The command urged members of the public to remain law-abiding while investigations continue and promised that anyone found guilty would face appropriate disciplinary action.