A police officer has apologised after he was seen in a video threatening to kill anyone that films him on duty.
In the video, which lasted less than three minutes, the policeman identified himself as Newton Isokpehi.
Speaking in Pidgin English, he criticised senior police authorities who encouraged Nigerians to film officers carrying out their duties in public.
The officer warned that he would attack or even kill anyone who record him while he was armed and on duty.
He also claimed he could shoot all passengers inside a vehicle if someone there tried to film him.
“Any day I’m on duty as an officer while holding my rifle, let someone video me. That oga who gave the order that police officers should be filmed, he will do your burial. I will kill anyone who films me on duty,” the officer said.
Isokpehi said he had spent 26 years in the police force and complained about poor welfare and working conditions faced by officers in Nigeria.
He, however, praised the leadership of the current inspector-general of police Tunji Disu, saying efforts were being made to improve the welfare of police personnel.
The officer runs a TikTok account, @actor459, where he regularly posts videos of himself dressed in police uniform.
His name, “Newton Isokpehi,” is visible on the uniform shown in the videos.
The incident comes months after a Federal High Court in Delta State ruled that Nigerians have the legal right to record police officers carrying out stop-and-search duties in public places.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa in a fundamental rights case filed by lawyer Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo.
The court stated that citizens are constitutionally allowed to film police officers while they perform their official duties.
Also in April, Lagos commissioner of police Tijani Fatai said Nigerians are free to record police officers on duty, adding that officers who act professionally have nothing to fear.
After the controversial video attracted public criticism online, Isokpehi later shared another video apologising for his remarks.
In the apology video, he asked Nigerians to forgive him, saying his earlier comments were made out of frustration and anger.
He also argued that some people have started abusing the freedom to record police officers in public.
Watch the video below:
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