Nigerian social media influencer Papaya Ex has alleged that officers of the Lagos State Police Command physically assaulted her following an encounter on Friday night. The content creator made the claims during a live broadcast on TikTok, where she displayed visible injuries, including a bleeding wound on her face.
According to Papaya Ex’s account, the incident occurred while she was returning from a professional shoot. She stated that police officers struck her face with a firearm and subsequently hit her breast. She further alleged that her driver was also beaten during the altercation.
A video from the TikTok live session, which has since circulated widely, shows at least one uniformed officer seated inside Papaya Ex’s vehicle while others stand nearby. The footage does not capture the alleged physical assault itself, but it provides a visual record of the immediate aftermath, with Papaya Ex visibly injured and pointing towards the officers.
As of the time of this report, the Lagos State Police Command has not issued a public statement responding to the specific allegations. The incident has quickly drawn attention on Nigerian social media platforms, reigniting public discourse around allegations of police misconduct and excessive force.
This case emerges against a backdrop of longstanding concerns regarding accountability within Nigeria’s police force. The 2020 nationwide #EndSARS protests, which demanded an end to police brutality and the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), highlighted systemic issues of abuse and lack of oversight. While reforms have been initiated, public trust remains fragile, and individual allegations such as this one are frequently scrutinized as tests of institutional commitment to change.
Papaya Ex’s decision to publicize the alleged assault via social media underscores the role of digital platforms in documenting and amplifying civilian claims against authorities. The video evidence, while not showing the assault, serves as a contemporaneous record of her injuries and the presence of police personnel at the scene.
The development places focus on the procedures for investigating complaints against police officers in Lagos State. Typically, such allegations would be referred to the Police Service Commission or internal affairs units for inquiry. The influencer’s public accusation increases pressure for a transparent and timely investigation by relevant authorities.
The situation remains fluid. The next steps will likely involve whether Papaya Ex files a formal complaint and the subsequent response from both the Lagos police command and national oversight bodies. The case contributes to the ongoing national conversation about security, citizen rights, and the mechanisms for holding law enforcement accountable in Nigeria.
