Police defend officers filmed driving against traffic, accuse motorists of harassment

The Lagos State Police Command has defended officers who were filmed driving against traffic flow, while accusing motorists of harassing and obstructing them. According to a statement from the command, an RRS patrol vehicle, marked 'RRS Attack 07', was seen navigating in the opposite lane to reach the source of a traffic obstruction. The patrol team, led by an Inspector, was dispatched from the Command’s Control Room as the nearest available unit to the scene.

The police explained that their actions were justified as an operational decision, citing Regulation 158 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012. This regulation permits emergency responders to temporarily disregard certain traffic signs while ensuring the safety of other road users. Nonetheless, the command strongly condemned the behavior of individuals who allegedly confronted and blocked the officers, stating that such conduct could be considered obstruction of police officers under Section 98 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

The police emphasized that such acts of intimidation, harassment, provocation, or obstruction of police officers performing lawful duties are unacceptable. They urged the public to voice their concerns about police conduct responsibly and within legal boundaries, stating that the command would not tolerate deliberate attempts to intimidate, harass, provoke, or obstruct police officers performing their job.