The Lagos State Police Command has released a detailed timeline of a high-speed pursuit and tactical interception involving a popular social media influencer in the Ajah area.
The report characterises the encounter not as a random stop, but as a case of civil defiance and dangerous road conduct that put both officers and the public at risk.
The incident began just before 2:00 AM, a timeframe the Command identifies as a critical period for anti-crime patrols. According to Nigeria Police Force spokesman, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, the routine stop of a vehicle carrying five occupants, three men and two women, was met with immediate hostility rather than the standard cooperation required for nighttime security.
The Command’s report highlights a growing trend of “celebrity entitlement” interfering with police procedures. When asked to submit the vehicle for a search, the female passenger, identified as Abike Raheem (alias Papaya Ex), allegedly attempted to use her social status to bypass security protocols.
“She bluntly refused, saying, ‘You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me,” Hundeyin reported.
The Police maintain that while the actress eventually agreed to move the matter to a station, the transition was marked by active resistance.
An officer was forced to enter the vehicle to ensure the suspects followed the patrol van a move the Command describes as a standard measure when a driver appears non-compliant.
The situation escalated from a verbal dispute to a public safety threat when the vehicle reached the open road. According to official statements, Raheem instructed her driver to “speed off,” successfully distancing the car from the following patrol van.
Faced with a potential getaway, the patrol team was forced to utilise radio communications to alert units further ahead.
This coordinated “pinch manoeuvre” eventually brought the vehicle to a halt, which the Police claim was the exact moment the influencer began her live broadcast to shift the narrative.
The police perspective has found support among citizens who are tired of elite interference in law enforcement.
On social media, supporters of the police action, such as @Inno_babaa, questioned the double standards often applied to Nigerian officers: “Can you do the same to police in the US?”
Others, like @justcheemmy, noted that “most times these celebrities feel they are untouchable and above the law.”
The Command addressed the allegations of assault by emphasising that the “live streaming” captured only the aftermath of a high-stress evasion, omitting the dangerous driving and obstruction that preceded it. @Ummieey_k echoed this sentiment, stating, “Why would you be out at 2 am… let the police do their job.”
While the influencer claims physical injury, the Police Command stands by the necessity of the intercept, framing it as a successful prevention of a vehicle evading a lawful checkpoint at an “ungodly hour.”
As @Odelora_ observed from the sidelines of the debate, “Police officers are human… they must be held accountable, but the public, including influencers, should engage responsibly.” The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that the case remains under active investigation to determine if further charges for obstruction and evasion will be filed.
