The Special Anti-Robbery Force unit of the Nigerian Police in a bid to exonerate itself from a lack of regard for singer, Praiz over his harassment ab
The Special Anti-Robbery Force unit of the Nigerian Police in a bid to exonerate itself from a lack of regard for singer, Praiz over his harassment about a week ago, has issued a statement to that effect, citing rudeness on the part of the singer.
Recall that about a week ago, the R&B singer was harassed and molested by men of the SARs while he was in an Uber. Praiz was chased after because they thought he was a yahoo boy due to what he was wearing, his looks and his beards. His phone was also smashed by the policemen when he started filming the incident.
Now, the Nigerian police have released a statement defending its action. In the statement, they claim that Praiz was verbally abusive but failed to address the smashed phone incident.
Read the full statement below
“On the 19th day of December 2017, at noon hours, policemen attached to Area ‘J’ Command Headquarters, Ajah, Lagos, who were on routine anti-crime patrol along Lekki/Epe Expressway, noticed a car at top speed approaching their end. The policemen sensed that the speed was much and so were alarmed hence they flagged down the car to check on the occupants and if necessary search the trunk of the car.
“When the car stopped, the officers who were in their uniforms approached the driver but to their disbelief, the driver who was yet to addressed by the policemen became hysterical without provocation and started shouting. Sars, sars, sars ooo. As he was shouting and pouring unprintable invectives on the officers of the law, he was at the same time filming them.
“These unprovoked actions on the part of the driver whose true identity at that time was unknown to the patrol men, made them even more suspicious of him and so they requested him to come with them to see the Area Commander, ACP Felix Oben whom they had already called to report the conduct of the man. It was at the Area Commander’s office that they got to know that he is a musician that goes by the name Praize. The Area Commander questioned him and advised him to be of good behaviour. He thereafter departed the police station peacefully without any molestation whatsoever.
“The Police authority in Lagos nevertheless felt scandalized by Praize’s rudeness to the men in uniform who were out to ensure law, order and safety along the Lekki/ Epe corridor. It is a matter of common knowledge that the Command Commissioner of Police, CP. Edgal Imohimi, who has dismissed a number of policemen that abused their offices since assuming office, would not hesitate to deal with the policemen if they had erred.
“It is also instructive to note that the officers are not SARS operatives as erroneously assumed by Praize but conventional policemen in their uniforms serving at Area ‘J’ Command Headquarters. The Lagos State Police Command, wishes to use this medium to inform all and sundry in Lagos state, that the present Commissioner of Police, Cp Edgal Imohimi had on assumption office set up the Citizen Complaint Centre with dedicated lines where complaints against police actions can be lodged for necessary action.
Celebrities are therefore advised to take advantage of these numbers or call on the Police Public Relations Officer instead of resorting to cheap social media blackmail.
Below are the Citizen Complaint Centre numbers:
08067945296
08063025274
08113615350
08113683077
08096283148
08096283183
08089781657
08126404930
08081426895
SP Chike Oti
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State Police Command.”
