Lagos Police and Influencer Papaya Ex Clash Over Alleged Assault
A high-profile confrontation between Lagos State police and popular Nigerian influencer Papaya Ex has sparked a public dispute over allegations of police brutality. The incident, which Papaya Ex claims occurred during a late-night traffic stop on Friday, has drawn reactions from both parties via social media.
Papaya Ex, whose real name is Adesuwa Onyenokwe, alleged in a widely viewed TikTok live stream that officers assaulted her, her driver, and a companion. Appearing with a visible facial injury during the broadcast, she accused police of hitting her with a gun, groping her, and beating her driver. She stated the incident happened as she returned from a shoot.
The Lagos State Police Command has firmly denied the assault allegations. In a detailed social media response, Police Public Relations Officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin presented the command’s account. He said a police patrol team stopped the vehicle carrying Papaya Ex and four others around 2 a.m. for a routine check.
According to Hundeyin, Papaya Ex refused the search, declaring, “You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me.” He stated she then insisted on driving to the nearest police station. Her vehicle led the way with the patrol van following. Hundeyin alleged she instructed her driver to speed away, attempting to evade the police. To prevent losing them, he said police radioed a checkpoint ahead to intercept the car, which is when Papaya Ex began her live session.
Hundeyin’s statement concluded, “@LagosPoliceNG will take it from here,” indicating an internal review. The police account does not address the origin of the facial injury shown in the video.
The divergence between the influencer’s live allegations and the police procedural narrative highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria regarding civilian-police interactions. Papaya Ex’s significant social media following, with millions of views on the incident, amplifies the case’s visibility. The Lagos Police Command has initiated its own review, though no official investigation or formal complaint has been publicly confirmed by either side. The outcome may depend on forensic evidence and independent accounts, as the alleged assault itself was not captured on the live stream.
