ABUJA: The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Miller Dantawaye, has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Ushafa Division after a viral video showed him slapping a young man during an arrest.
The incident, which trended on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, sparked nationwide outrage, with many Nigerians condemning the officer’s conduct as unprofessional and abusive.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, described the officer’s behaviour as unacceptable and contrary to the core ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns the officer’s actions, which fall short of the high standards of discipline, civility, and professionalism expected of police officers,” Adeh stated.
She added that the DPO had been redeployed to the command headquarters pending the conclusion of an internal investigation into the incident.
Consequently, the officer has been redeployed, and the situation is currently under investigation,” she confirmed.
CP Dantawaye further warned all Divisional Police Officers and their subordinates across the FCT to maintain professionalism and respect citizens’ rights while discharging their duties, stressing that misconduct would attract severe disciplinary action.
All officers must remain professional, courteous, and law-abiding. Any act of abuse or misconduct will be met with strict sanctions, the statement added.
The commissioner also called on residents to maintain mutual respect and cooperation with police personnel to strengthen community policing and enhance public safety in the FCT.
Mutual respect and cooperation are essential for effective community policing and public safety,” he emphasized.
The FCT Police Command urged residents to report any suspicious activities or misconduct by law enforcement officers to appropriate authorities.
In a related case, the Ondo State Police Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, recently redeployed the DPO of the Enu-Owa Division over alleged unprofessional handling of a case involving social media influencer Mandykiss, who had been filmed humiliating a mother and daughter in custody.
Earlier in June, the FCT Command also investigated another viral video showing officers allegedly harassing a man during a patrol at Chikakore Bridge, highlighting ongoing concerns over police conduct across the country.
