In a small barbershop in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, a CCTV recording has sparked outrage and debate across Nigeria. The viral footage, which surfaced online in late March 2025, allegedly shows officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the Nigeria Police Force taking mobile phones from the shop, leading to accusations of theft. The Nigeria Police Force, however, insists the officers were performing their duties, not breaking the law. As the video circulates widely on platforms like X, two conflicting narratives have emerged, leaving the public to weigh the evidence.
On March 22, 2025, Seketi Adebowale, the shop owner, reported that SWAT officers from the Akure command stormed his barbershop in Idogun. According to Adebowale, the officers broke in and took several mobile phones left by customers for charging. The CCTV footage, now viewed thousands of times online, appears to support his claim, showing an officer handling phones in what many interpret as an act of theft. Social media erupted with condemnation, with users like @OgbeniObSugar and @instablog9ja decrying the incident as a blatant abuse of power by the police unit established to combat serious crime. For Adebowale and his supporters, the recording is damning evidence of misconduct by those meant to uphold the law.
The Nigeria Police Force tells a different story. In a press release issued by the Ondo State Police Command on March 22, 2025, authorities acknowledged the viral video but framed the officers’ actions as part of a "quick intervention duty" in Idogun. The police did not directly address the theft allegations in the statement, instead emphasizing the operational context. Adding clarity, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, speaking to Tribune Online on March 23, 2025, defended the SWAT team, arguing that recovering items during such interventions is standard practice to prevent looting or theft by others. According to this account, the officers were not stealing but securing property in the line of duty—a routine procedure misunderstood by the public.
The incident has reignited discussions about police conduct in Nigeria, with opinions sharply divided. On one side, the shop owner’s testimony and the CCTV footage fuel calls for accountability, with many pointing to a pattern of alleged abuses by security forces. On the other, the police maintain that their actions were lawful, urging the public to consider the complexities of their work. As of March 24, 2025, no official investigation outcome has been released, leaving the truth somewhere between the grainy frames of the recording and the official statements.
For now, the people of Idogun—and Nigerians watching online—are left with questions: Was this a case of theft captured on camera, or a misrepresentation of police duty? Only time, and perhaps further evidence, will tell.
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