Well-known Nollywood actress, Laide Bakare, the Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment, Art, Culture, and Tourism, to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has publicly criticized the Nigerian police online, through a viral Instagram post on Sunday, accusing them of brutality. The Yoruba actress stated that the incident occurred on Saturday along the Ikorodu Expressway.
“For the first time, I experienced the brutal way Nigerians are being treated along that axis,” Bakare explained, expressing shock and dismay at the treatment she received.
“I cannot imagine how someone with a brain and sanity will drive someone’s car away with a minor in it.” She described how an officer drove off with her car, with her daughter still inside, leaving her daughter terrified.
Bakare emphasized the need for urgent attention to the numerous issues in the country, alleging that the police targeted expensive cars and vulnerable individuals to extort money, specifically mentioning that the officers demanded her ATM card to withdraw N70,000.
In response, the Lagos State police command, through its spokesperson SP Benjamin Hundeyin, addressed the allegations on X (formerly Twitter). Hundeyin clarified that Bakare was stopped for violating traffic regulations by driving in the BRT lane. “You were stopped for contravening traffic laws by driving on the BRT lane. You chose to create a scene. You chose to remain out of your vehicle when it was being taken to the LAMATA office,” he stated.
Hundeyin further explained that Bakare paid the N70,000 fine for her traffic violation into the government’s account and left with both her receipt and vehicle, denying any physical harassment. “You paid the N70,000 fine for your offence into the government coffers. Not a finger was laid on you. You left with the receipt and your vehicle.”
