Police react to viral CCTV footage of officer allegedly stealing phones in Ondo

The Nigeria Police Force has responded to a viral CCTV recording allegedly showing officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit stealing mobile phones from a shop in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The footage, captured on March 22, 2025, reportedly shows officers entering a barbershop owned by Seketi Adebowale and taking mobile phones left by customers for charging.

Narrating the incident, Adebowale stated;

“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.”

The alleged theft occurred amid ongoing unrest in the community following the arrest of a Navy captain, Jide Falade, after a dispute with the local king.

Protests erupted in response to Falade’s detention, with reports that SWAT officers used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators.

Adebowale further claimed that the local king led SWAT officers to specific homes and businesses, including his barbershop, which was later destroyed.

“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,” he alleged.

A separate video from the scene shows a woman and a young boy displaying injuries allegedly inflicted by the police.

The woman recounted, “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.”

Following public outcry over the viral footage, the Nigeria Police Force announced that it is aware of the incident and has initiated an internal investigation to identify the officers involved and address the alleged misconduct.