Lagos Police Arrest Inspector Osumah Frank Over Viral Video Attacking Peter Obi, Igbo People
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and commenced disciplinary proceedings against an inspector, identified as Osumah Frank, after a viral video showed him making disparaging ethnic and political remarks about Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi and the Igbo people.
The command confirmed the development in a statement issued Friday, September 25, 2026, by its spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi. In the video, which circulated widely on social media, Frank, dressed in police uniform, was recorded seated in the front seat of a moving public transport vehicle while discussing Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition. During the recording, the inspector was heard stating that an Igbo person could not become President of Nigeria and suggesting that Obi would not win the 2027 presidential election. He was also heard making remarks concerning President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while suggesting that police officers could be financially induced to undermine a political candidate’s prospects.
Reacting to the video, the Lagos Police Command described Frank’s comments as “careless, inappropriate and uncultured,” and confirmed that appropriate disciplinary action had been initiated against him in line with established Nigeria Police Force regulations. “The Command has commenced appropriate disciplinary action against the officer in line with established regulations of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement read. The command was careful to stress that Frank’s remarks were made in his personal capacity and did not reflect the official position, views or disposition of either the Lagos State Police Command or the Nigeria Police Force more broadly. The specific disciplinary measures being pursued against Frank had not been disclosed as of the time of the statement.
The incident is not the first of its kind to draw police disciplinary action in recent months. In July, the force similarly acted after a separate video showed officers on the Lagos-Benin Expressway allegedly making derogatory remarks, with the Nigeria Police Force confirming at the time that the officers involved had been identified and that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against them.
Regarding the broader practice of members of the public recording police officers, the force has maintained that there is no prohibition against filming officers while they carry out their duties in public spaces. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has not opposed such recordings, though he has previously cautioned against their misuse.
The latest disciplinary action against Frank places renewed attention on the standard of conduct expected of Nigerian police officers, particularly around expressions of political and ethnic bias while in uniform, as the case continues to generate public discussion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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