Police Officer Arrested After Threatening To Kill Anyone Recording Him On Duty, As Force Orders Immediate Disciplinary Action 

Abuja, Nigeria- The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a police officer, identified as Newton Isokpehi, who was captured in a viral video threatening to kill any member of the public who records him while performing his duties.

The incident, which stirred widespread outrage across social media platforms, has prompted swift administrative action from police authorities, who say the officer has already been taken into custody and subjected to disciplinary proceedings.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Anthony Placid, the officer has been arrested and will face internal disciplinary measures over his conduct, which the Force described as unacceptable and inconsistent with professional policing standards.

Peoples Gazette reports that Mr. Placid, in an initial reaction to inquiries on Thursday, confirmed the development , stating that Mr. Isokpehi had already been arrested and would face disciplinary action.

He said: “The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the conduct and utterances exhibited in the video are unacceptable, unprofessional, and inconsistent with the ethics, standards, and code of conduct of the Nigeria Police Force. Such actions run contrary to the ongoing reform initiatives of the Force aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, professionalism, and citizen-focused policing.”

The statement further emphasised that the conduct of the officer directly contradicts the public position of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who had reiterated that members of the public are legally permitted to record police officers while performing their duties, provided such recording does not obstruct police operations, compromise safety, or interfere with lawful enforcement activities.

Reinforcing the internal response, the police authorities stated that the officer has already been identified and summoned to the Anambra State Command Headquarters, where disciplinary procedures have commenced without delay.

Mr. Placid, in a follow-up official statement, further condemned the officer’s conduct in strong terms, noting that such behavior has no place within the Nigeria Police Force.

He stated:“In line with this position, the officer involved has since been identified and summoned to the Anambra State Command Headquarters where immediate disciplinary procedures have commenced.”

He added:“The Nigeria Police Force does not tolerate threats, intimidation, abuse of office, or any conduct capable of undermining public trust and confidence in law enforcement institutions.”

The Force reiterated that the conduct seen in the viral video violates the core principles guiding modern policing and undermines ongoing reforms aimed at rebuilding public trust, improving accountability, and strengthening professionalism within the institution.

Meanwhile, rights advocates have also weighed in on the incident, noting that the video has reignited debate around police accountability, use of force, and citizens’ rights to document law enforcement activities in public spaces.

The arrest of Mr. Isokpehi comes amid continued scrutiny of policing practices in Nigeria, with calls for stricter enforcement of disciplinary standards and greater transparency in handling cases of misconduct within the security services.