A viral CCTV recording has sparked outrage after allegedly capturing officers of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit stealing mobile phones from a shop in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The footage, recorded on March 22, 2025, reportedly shows uniformed officers entering a barbershop owned by Seketi Adebowale and taking phones left by customers for charging.
The shocking revelation has intensified concerns over police misconduct in Nigeria.
Adebowale, who owns the shop, narrated the incident, stating, “In each of the videos, a policeman walks in and takes phones from where they were being charged.
I received a mobile alert about intruders and checked the footage, which revealed that the individuals were from SWAT Akure.
Expecting them to tamper with the camera, I quickly removed it for safekeeping.”
This alleged act of theft took place amid tensions in the community following the controversial arrest of a Navy captain, Jide Falade, after a dispute with the local king.
The arrest of Falade triggered protests in Idogun, with residents demanding his release.
In response, SWAT officers reportedly deployed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the demonstrators.
However, the situation worsened when security operatives allegedly began targeting specific homes and businesses, including Adebowale’s barbershop, which was later vandalized.
He further alleged, “Early Saturday morning, my shop was targeted despite the presence of CCTV footage that captured the culprits. The police further assaulted residents, including men, women, and children, and even killed animals.”
Another disturbing video from the scene showed a woman and a young boy displaying injuries allegedly inflicted by the police.
Recounting her ordeal, the woman said, “They kicked the door open and came in.
They cut my son with a cutlass and used the blunt part to beat me.
One of them threatened to slash my head. I told him to go ahead and kill me. He said he would kill me, but one of them stopped him.”
The viral nature of the CCTV footage has intensified public criticism, leading to an official response from the Nigeria Police Force.
Authorities confirmed that they are aware of the incident and have launched an internal investigation to identify the officers involved and address the alleged misconduct.
A police spokesperson assured the public that appropriate action would be taken against any officer found guilty, emphasizing that law enforcement personnel must uphold the highest ethical standards.
This incident has once again raised concerns about the abuse of power within Nigeria’s security forces.
While investigations are ongoing, many believe that justice must be served to restore public trust in the system.
