The video of a man who identified himself as a police officer, threatening to kill any Nigerian who records him while he is on duty, has gone viral.
In the less than three-minute clip, the man identified as Newton Isokpehi, said the police boss who asked Nigerians to make video recordings of police officers on duty was wrong.
The officer also threatened to shoot dead every passenger in a bus should someone in the vehicle film him while he is on duty.
“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 in Pidgin English.
Isokpehi claimed that he has spent 26 years in service, while lamenting the poor working conditions in the force.
He said police officers are not cared for in the country, adding that the new administration of Tunji Disu, inspector-general of police, is working to improve the welfare of officers.
The officer has a Tiktok account — @actor459 — wherein he publishes videos of himself in police garb.
Emblazoned on his uniforms is the name “Newton Isokpehi”.
In March, a federal high court in Delta state ruled that Nigerians can record police officers engaging in stop-and-search operations in public spaces.
Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, the presiding judge, made the ruling following an enforcement of the fundamental rights suit filed by Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo, a lawyer.
Nganjiwa held that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record police officers performing their duties.
In April, Tijani Fatai, Lagos commissioner of police, said Nigerians can record police officers on duty, adding that personnel have nothing to fear if they are conducting themselves lawfully.
After the video went viral, the officer published an apology clip on his Tiktok page.
In the new video, he asked for forgiveness over the threat to kill, adding that he made the comment out of anger and frustration.
He claimed that most persons are now abusing the right to film police officers.
