The inspector general of police, Mr. Usman Baba, has ordered the Lagos State commissioner of police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa to arrest Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, for assaulting a policeman on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, Lagos.
The order was in reaction to a video that went viral, where Kuti was seen pushing and slapping the policeman whose identity was yet to be ascertained.
A 12-second video clip which went viral on Saturday (yesterday) showed Kuti, who wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, pushing a policeman, who stood beside a Toyota Hilux police van.
He then proceeded to slap the policeman as he shouted, “You dey craze, you dey mad?”
A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”
Announcing the order for his arrest in a statement, spokesman for the police, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said: “The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, to arrest Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, who was captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform.
“The IG has equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly,”
Adejobi also quoted the IG as assuring Nigerians that the act of “contempt/disdain for symbols of authority” would not be tolerated, while “offenders of such hideous crimes will surely be brought to book.”
Reacting to the order for his arrest on his Instagram page @BigbirdKuti, the musician said the policeman made an attempt on his life and his family.
“He tried to kill me and my family, I have the proof but I no dey chase clout. He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges. Make una mind una business, make the poor guy no lose him job,” he wrote.
However, he promised to cooperate with the police authorities.
