The Nigeria Police Force has officially responded to a viral CCTV recording that allegedly captures officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit stealing mobile phones from a shop in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The footage, which surfaced online on March 22, 2025, purportedly shows a group of uniformed officers entering a barbershop owned by Seketi Adebowale. The shop’s security camera reportedly recorded them taking mobile phones left by customers for charging before walking away without any explanation.
Narrating the ordeal, Adebowale explained:
“In each of the videos, you can clearly see a policeman entering my shop, looking around, and then taking phones from the charging section. I was alerted via a mobile notification system that there was movement in my shop. When I checked the footage, I was shocked to see that the individuals were officers from SWAT Akure. Anticipating that they might return to destroy the evidence, I quickly removed the CCTV camera to safeguard it.”
The alleged incident occurred during a period of unrest in the Idogun community, following the controversial arrest of a Navy captain, Jide Falade, after a reported altercation with the local traditional ruler.
In the wake of Falade’s detention, the community erupted in protests, with reports emerging that SWAT officers used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators. The situation escalated, leading to confrontations between the security forces and residents.
Adebowale further claimed that the local king was actively involved in directing SWAT officers to specific homes and businesses, including his barbershop, which was later ransacked and destroyed.
“By early Saturday morning, my shop had been attacked despite the fact that the CCTV footage clearly captured those responsible. Apart from the theft, the police also resorted to brutality, attacking men, women, and even children. They even went as far as killing animals in the community,” he alleged.
A separate video from the scene shows a woman and a young boy with injuries, which they claim were inflicted by the police during the raid.
The woman in the footage detailed her harrowing experience:
“They kicked the door open and barged into my home. They slashed my son with a cutlass and used the blunt side to beat me. One of them even threatened to cut off my head. I told him to go ahead, that I was not afraid to die. He was about to do it when another officer intervened and stopped him.”
Following public outrage over the leaked footage, the Nigeria Police Force released a statement acknowledging the incident and assuring the public that an internal investigation has been launched. Authorities stated that they are actively working to identify the officers involved and ensure that appropriate disciplinary actions are taken in accordance with the law.