The Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, has warned that the obstruction of police officers while trying to discharge their duties is an offence against the law, News About Nigeria reports.
He disclosed that while reacting to the narration of a Lagos State resident simply identified as AyBenson, who recounted the alleged ill-mannered acts of some operatives of the Lagos State Police Command attached to the Ogombo Division.
AyBenson had taken to his page on X to recount an incident that happened late on Thursday.
According to him, at about 10:48 p.m. on April 24th, policemen in uniform in two branded trucks from Ogombo Division forcefully gained access to the estate through the designated gate for estate residents.
“As soon as the security man on duty tried to carry out the due diligence in checks, they jumped out, numbering about 10, and descended on him with their guns to the extent of breaking his teeth and injuring him. They also swore to take him away to an unknown location to teach him respect for the police; if not for the timely intervention of the supervisor on duty, who is a retired military personnel,” he stated.
He condemned the act, stating that something should be done about it as the officers are meant to protect the lives of citizens and not threaten them.
However, reacting to this, Hundeyin stated that it was wrong for the estate guards to stop the police, who were in uniform and in the official vehicle of the command.
He added that resistance to arrest and obstruction of officers doing their duty are punishable offences.
“It is actually sad and worrisome that when an estate resident calls the police to respond to an ongoing incident within an estate, police officers in full uniform and police branded patrol vehicles are stopped at the gate by the estate security men to ‘carry out due diligence in checks,’ to use your exact words.
“Obstructing police officers in the discharge of their duties is an offence. Resisting arrest is equally an offence. Minimal force will be applied where absolutely necessary,” he wrote.
