A video has surfaced on social media showing a Nigerian police officer, Newton Isokpehi, threatening to shoot dead any citizen who attempts to record him while on duty.
In the widely condemned footage, Isokpehi—who claimed 26 years in the police force—also issued graphic threats directed at superior officers who permit citizens to film law enforcement personnel.
Isokpehi who posted the video on his TikTok account, bearing the name “Newton isokpehi for life”said;
“Any day I’m on duty as a police officer, carrying my rifle and doing my job, let somebody come and video me. That oga who gave you people the order to video us, he will go and do your burial. He will bury you. The number of you that I k!ll, he will be the one to bury all of you.
I have served in the Nigerian Police Force for twenty-six years in this place where we are suffering. We suffer every single day, every time.
If anyone is bold enough, just bring your camera. Watch me properly, bring your camera and come anywhere I am. Come and video me. If you don’t do it right, I will clear everybody down, the whole bus, everybody around. I swear to God, if I don’t do it, let me d!e” he said
He also directed explicit threats at any officer who had ordered members of the public to film police on duty.
“That oga, that police officer who gave the order for people to video policemen on duty, oya, I will deal with you all harshly. You will see serious wahala, you will see problem. Problem will destroy your generation,” he said
During the video, Isokpehi who appeared to be frustrated, displayed what he described as bullet wounds on his arm, citing them as evidence of the hardship officers endure without adequate welfare support.
“You think I was born like this? This is a gunshot wound. We are just working. Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. My whole body is covered with bullet wounds and gunshot scars. Yet I’m still suffering,” he said
He acknowledged that the current Inspector General of Police had begun addressing the backlog of unpaid insurance and death benefits owed to officers and their families.
“Look at families whose fathers died many years ago. Since this IG assumed office, he has started releasing their insurance and benefits,” he said.
The video has elicited reactions from Nigerians with many calling for the sanctioning of the officer as well as a medical evaluation of his mental state.
