Edo police detain cop for slapping woman in viral video

The Edo State Police Command has arrested and detained a police sergeant, identified as Sgt. Samuel Imakor, for slapping a lady, Mercy Ajayi, at the police station.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, on Monday.

The statement read, “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it’s aware of a video trending of a young woman slapped by a policeman at the police station.

“The erring policeman has been identified as a Police Sergeant, F/NO. 505450 Sgt Samuel Imakor attached to Iruekpen Police Station, Edo State.

“The Police Sergeant, who was arrested and brought to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State on Monday, February 11, 2024 by his Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for debriefing, confessed to the CP that he truly slapped the young woman who he identified as Mercy Ajayi, but later advanced his defence against the young woman on the fact that she slapped him in the vehicle during the process of her arrest, adding that she was arrested in connection with the offence of stealing of human hair from a hotel department.

“In view of the above, the Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Funsho Adegboye, mni ordered for his arrest and the immediate disciplinary procedure, known as orderly room trial, to be setup urgently against him by the Command’s Provost Marshal.”

According Online reported on Sunday that while reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi condemned the act saying, “I have said it severally that policemen are not trained to slap, use horse whip or stick to flog people.

“Even if it’s compulsory to apply minimum force while on duty, the police have the required accoutrements and gadgets to use to apply that minimum force as described by our law.”

In a similar incident, the Ebonyi State Police Command, on Sunday, condemned the behaviour of some of its officers caught on camera in a viral social media video beating some men.

The command also revealed that an investigation into the incident had begun and promised disciplinary action against the officers found to be involved.