The Lagos State Police Command has commenced an investigation following allegations that members of a task force extorted money from a motorist, an incident captured in a viral video circulating online.
The footage, which has stirred conversations across social media, reportedly showed operatives accusing the driver of committing a traffic violation in the Ikeja axis of the state, while the motorist claimed the allegation was fabricated.
Reacting to the development, the command, in a statement shared on Sunday via its official X handle, @LagosPoliceNG, said it had taken note of the trending video and assured residents that the matter would not be swept under the carpet.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has directed that the claims be subjected to a thorough and urgent investigation to determine the facts surrounding the incident.
“Jimoh had directed that the allegations be immediately looked into, adding that appropriate action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation,” it stated.
The command also expressed appreciation to members of the public who drew attention to the incident.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online on Saturday in which a motorist alleged that task force officials stopped him around Toyin Street in Ikeja.
In the video, the driver insisted that he was wrongly accused of driving against traffic — popularly known as ‘one-way’ — a claim he strongly denied.
He further alleged that the operatives forcefully took control of his vehicle, drove it to another point where it was made to appear as though it had violated traffic flow, and attempted to use the situation as proof of an offence.
The motorist also claimed that the officials demanded and eventually collected N150,000 from him before allowing him to retrieve his vehicle.
The video has since ignited widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians demanding transparency, accountability, and a fair investigation into the allegations.
