Police officer Newton Isokpehi has apologised to Nigerians after a viral video showed him threatening to shoot anyone caught filming him while on duty, a statement that sparked widespread outrage on social media.
In a video shared on his TikTok page on Thursday, Isokpehi addressed the backlash, saying his comments were made out of frustration. He also pleaded for forgiveness from Nigerians and human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who had circulated the original clip online.
Speaking in Pidgin English, the officer said his remarks had been misunderstood. He maintained that he was not against citizens filming police officers, but insisted that it was wrong for individuals to randomly record officers while they are on duty.
Isokpehi, who said he hails from Edo State and grew up in a police barracks in Kaduna, described himself as a dedicated officer. He said he has served in the Mobile Police for 12 years and has consistently given his best in service to the country.
During his emotional appeal, he showed visible gunshot wounds on his body, claiming they were sustained during past operations. He recounted surviving a deadly mission where only two out of 17 officers reportedly made it out alive, saying the demands and dangers of the job sometimes lead to emotional outbursts.
He further insisted that he never intended to harm civilians and that his earlier statement should not be taken literally. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official response to the incident, which has continued to generate public debate online.
Elijah Adeyemi
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