Lagos CP apologises as officer who brutalized Lagos Journalists is detained

For brutalising a photojournalist with The PUNCH, Olukayode Jaiyeola, Inspector Adadu Innocent will not only be detained but will face orderly room trial, the Lagos State Police Command said Thursday evening..

The photojournalist had been attacked by the police inspector, attached to PMF 22 Ikeja while covering the October 1 protest at by the #RevolutionNow group at the Maryland are of Lagos State.

In the ensuing melee, his camera was seized by Adadu’s colleagues at the scene of the unfortunate incident.

Ia statement late Thursday, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said preliminary investigation showed that “the police officer suddenly attacked the journalist, without any previous altercation or confrontation”.

The PPRO further said the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, suspended his movements to stay throughout the journalist’s treatment and subsequent discharge.

The CP apologised to The PUNCH over the brutalisation of its staff, urging the general public to “believe in the command’s commitment to sanitising and reforming the policing system in Lagos State in conformity with the international standards.”

“The police chief, who was monitoring the deployment and operational activities of officers and men of the command for the enforcement of the order against unlawful gathering and protest by some unpatriotic individuals, raced to the scene and personally moved the injured journalist to the Police Cottage (hospital) at Area F, GRA, Ikeja, where he personally waited and ensured the injured journalist was given immediate and best medical treatment.

“The preliminary findings carried out by the Commissioner of Police and eyewitness accounts from senior officers on ground revealed that the cop suddenly attacked the journalist, without any previous altercation or confrontation.

“This propelled the Commissioner of Police to order for his trial in order to serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of engaging in unprofessional and unethical conduct.”