A Nigerian police officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Newton Isokpehi, has sparked public outrage after a video emerged showing him threatening citizens who film police during operations. In the now-deleted TikTok clip, he warned that anyone caught recording him while on duty would be shot. He stated he would remove everyone in the area if people filmed him, demanding that those recording should be stopped by their superiors.
The comments were widely condemned by rights activists and the public, who described them as illegal and dangerous. Human rights advocate Harrison Gwamnishu called for disciplinary action, and many Nigerians urged police authorities to remove the officer from duty.
Following the backlash, Isokpehi apologized, acknowledging that citizens have the constitutional right to record police while they work. He explained that his outburst was fueled by frustration due to distractions during operations, adding that he had previously survived a bullet wound and faced poor welfare conditions within the force.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that administrative measures are already being taken regarding the incident.