Police officer who threatened Nigerians over filming apologises

Police officer Newton Isokpehi has apologised to Nigerians after a viral video showed him threatening to shoot anyone caught filming him while on duty.

 

In a video shared on his TikTok page on Thursday, Isokpehi said his comments were made out of frustration and appealed to Nigerians and rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu for forgiveness.

 

“Please forgive me. If I offended you as a brother, forgive me. That statement was just out of annoyance because of the things that are happening. These things are painful,” he said.

 

Speaking in Pidgin English, the officer clarified that he was not against citizens recording police officers while on duty.

 

“Actually, you can video us. You are allowed to video a policeman. But it’s not right for just anybody to come from anywhere and start videoing officers on duty. They have taken it too far,” he said.

 

Isokpehi, who said he is from Edo State and grew up in a police barracks in Kaduna, described himself as a dedicated officer who had spent years serving the country.

 

“Anywhere people ask about me, people will testify to my character. I have worked in the Mobile Police for 12 years. I have worked for my fatherland with all my heart,” he said.

 

He also displayed gunshot wounds he said were sustained during police operations.

 

“Look at my body, these are all bullets. These are all gunshot wounds. See my chest, bullet has eaten into it. Out of 17 of us, only two survived that operation,” he said.

 

“We have suffered in this work. So it was out of annoyance. We don’t even like complaining.”

 

The officer also withdrew his earlier threat, insisting he had no intention of harming civilians.

 

“How can I be saying I will kill my own people? We don’t do that. I spoke out of annoyance. That one was just verbal talk,” he said.

 

Addressing Gwamnishu and Nigerians directly, he added:

 

“Harrison, forgive me. I beg the whole of Nigeria, please forgive me. This one has reached too far.”

 

The controversy followed a viral video in which Isokpehi allegedly threatened to “clear everybody down,” including people standing near anyone filming him.

 

The Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement on the matter as of press time.