Ondo police assure residents of fairness over viral stop-and-search incident

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and the protection of the rights of all residents following the viral video showing police officers conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.

The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, gave the assurance on Monday while receiving members of the Non-Indigenes Assembly, Ondo State chapter, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Ondo State Police Headquarters in Akure.

The delegation, led by the President of the assembly, Okita Isaac Onahi, said the visit was prompted by the command’s swift response to the incident, particularly the decision to identify the officers involved and commence an investigation.

Onahi said, “We commend the Ondo State Police Command for promptly identifying the officers involved and initiating a thorough investigation. The action has strengthened the confidence of the Igbo community and other non-indigenes in the fairness and professionalism of the command.”

Responding, Ohagwu thanked the delegation for its support and assured them that the investigation would be transparent and impartial, stressing that any officer found guilty of misconduct would face the appropriate disciplinary measures.

“The investigation will be conducted without fear or favour. Any officer found culpable will be sanctioned in line with the law and the disciplinary regulations of the Nigeria Police Force,” the commissioner said.

Ohagwu also reaffirmed the command’s resolve to promote peaceful coexistence among residents regardless of their ethnic, religious or cultural backgrounds, urging members of the public to refrain from inflammatory comments capable of creating division.

He further appealed to residents to continue supporting the police with credible information that would enhance security across the state, assuring them that the command would sustain community-oriented policing and uphold the highest standards of accountability and professionalism.