Police Detain Four Officers Over Viral Ethnic Slur

Jimoh said the command had launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the officers' level of culpability and ensure appropriate disciplinary action where necessary.

The Ondo State Police Command has detained four inspectors captured in a viral video allegedly making ethnically insensitive remarks and attempting to solicit a bribe from a motorist during a roadside stop.

The officers, identified as Elomore Sodayo, Adefila Adewale, Olorunfemi Opeyemi and Odusola Peter, were arrested following public outrage over the footage, which also raised concerns about alleged misconduct by the policemen.

In the video, one of the officers appeared to pressure the motorist for money before making an ethnic remark after the driver refused to comply. The officer was heard saying, "I just see that we are very close. If you were Igbo or another person, I'd have asked you to park..." while gesturing towards the roadside.

Speaking in Akure on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Abayomi Jimoh, said the officers had been taken into custody on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu.

Jimoh said the command had launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the officers' level of culpability and ensure appropriate disciplinary action where necessary.

"The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution that does not condone any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence, promoting ethnic division, or bringing the Force into disrepute," he said.

He stressed that officers are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, respect for human dignity and strict compliance with the Force's Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.

Jimoh assured the public that the investigation would be conducted fairly, transparently and without bias, adding that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary measures in line with the law and established police regulations.

He reaffirmed the command's commitment to professional, intelligence-driven and community-oriented policing and urged members of the public to continue reporting cases of police misconduct through the appropriate complaint channels.