A late-night encounter between social media personality Papaya Ex and officers of the Lagos State Police Command has sparked intense public debate.
The influencer accused a police officer of assaulting her inside her vehicle during a stop in the Ajah area of Lagos. However, the police have released a detailed counter statement disputing parts of her claims.
The Papaya Ex Lagos police assault allegation has since gone viral on social media. Therefore, questions are being raised about what truly happened during the early morning stop.
According to Papaya Ex, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. when officers stopped her vehicle for a routine check. She later shared a video on Instagram showing a visible red welt on her face.
In an emotional post, she alleged that an officer struck her with a gun. “An officer beat me up right inside my car. He used his gun on me. Please I am at Ajah y’all I’m bleeding,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Benjamin Hundeyin, provided a different account of the events. In a statement shared online, he described what happened before the influencer went live on social media.
“The part before she went live,” he began.
He stated that just before 2 a.m., officers on night patrol stopped a vehicle carrying three men and two women for inspection. According to him, Papaya Ex refused the search.
“She bluntly refused saying, ‘You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me.’”
Hundeyin explained that she then chose to proceed to the police station. An officer reportedly entered her vehicle after an initial refusal. The patrol van followed behind.
He further alleged that she instructed her driver to speed off, leaving the patrol vehicle behind.
“She instructed her driver to speed off, leaving the patrol vehicle far behind. At that rate, the patrol van was going to lose them. The police had to radio the patrol team far ahead to intercept them. Then the live began… @LagosPoliceNG will take it from here.”
However, Papaya Ex maintains that the encounter became violent. She insists that excessive force was used against her. Full details surrounding the confrontation remain unclear.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has indicated that the matter will continue to be handled internally.
