Policemen, on Wednesday afternoon, assaulted a commercial bus driver, slapped and stripped him naked in the Ilupeju area of Lagos State, a source has told FIJ.

The source, who asked not to be named, said she was working when the incident happened.

She said she peeked out of her window and saw policemen dragging a commercial bus driver out of his vehicle, tugging his clothes, and slapping him continuously before pinning him to the floor. She said his clothes came off during the scuffle, and he was stark naked.

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Speaking to FIJ, the source said, “I was just working when I heard noise outside. When I looked out, I saw policemen dragging one bus driver and slapping him anyhow.

“They dragged his clothes off and were dragging him to their vehicle but he kept shouting that he had not done anything. Later, they pinned him to the ground and stepped on him.”

The source sent FIJ some pictures she had taken of the scene, but when FIJ called Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, he told FIJ the narrative was “impossible.”

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Hundeyin said, “No police officer will strip anyone naked, especially in broad daylight. Maybe in the night, but I can vow that it is impossible. You know how this bus drivers are. When you want to arrest them, they pull all sorts of gimmicks, go naked and start creating a scene.”

After he spoke with FIJ, our reporter sent him a video of a policeman holding the unnamed bus driver by his knicker and pinning him to a police van. An armed policeman is in front of them, and moments after, a third policeman walks up to them and deals slaps directly to the face of the unarmed civilian.

When FIJ asked Hundeyin if it was common practice for the police to slap civilians in a bid to restrain them, he described the question as ridiculous and patronising, and wanted to be asked instead what the force would do to errant officers who assault civilians.

However, when FIJ asked what actions the force would take, Hundeyin went silent.

As of press time, FIJ had not ascertained what division the officers were attached to, but Hundeyin told this reporter he had contacted their DPO and would follow up the matter.