Ondo Police Arrest Four Officers Over Ethnic Remark

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four officers following the circulation of a viral video showing them making unprofessional and ethnically charged remarks to a motorist during a stop-and-search operation. The incident, which prompted widespread public criticism, occurred on the Lagos-Benin Expressway and was addressed by police officials on Friday, July 24, 2026.

The video, which spread across social media platforms, captured a heated exchange between the officers and a motorist, described as a recent returnee from the United Kingdom. The driver challenged the officers' conduct, accusing them of intimidation and attempted extortion. During the confrontation, one officer was heard making a remark suggesting the motorist would have been detained if he belonged to the Igbo ethnic group. The specific comment, which many interpreted as ethnic profiling, fueled significant online debate and calls for disciplinary action.

In response, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, held a briefing with journalists in Akure on Friday. He confirmed that the four officers seen in the footage had been identified and arrested on the directive of the...