The police command in Edo says it has arrested the officer shown to be slapping a young woman in a viral social media video.

In a statement issued on Monday by the command’s spokesman, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the officer, identified as Sgt. Samuel Imakor, is attached to the Iruekpen Police Station, Edo.

The video where the officer was recorded slapping the woman at the station surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

From the statement, Mr Imakor was arrested and brought to the state commissioner of police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, by his divisional police officer (DPO).

The erring officer, said the statement, confessed to the CP that he slapped the young woman after she first slapped him in the process of arresting her.

Mr Imakor claimed he was arresting the woman for allegedly stealing human hair from a hotel department when the situation occurred.

The statement, however, said the CP ordered his orderly room trial.

“The CP reiterated his commitment to ensuring that officers and men of the command carry out their duties with ‘democratic policing’ and with the fear of God.

“He also urged the good people of Edo State to report promptly to him any unprofessional conduct of police officers against the citizens.

“Members of the public, on the other hand, should also respect their police and also obey the rule of law that it takes two to tangle,” it read.

(NAN)