A Nigerian police officer, Newton Isokpehi, who recently sparked outrage after threatening to shoot anyone caught filming him while on duty, has issued a public apology.
In a follow-up video shared on Thursday via his TikTok page, the officer expressed regret over his earlier comments, stating that his remarks were made out of frustration and did not reflect his true intentions.
Speaking partly in Pidgin English, Isokpehi appealed for forgiveness from Nigerians and specifically addressed rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who had amplified the initial video.
“Please forgive me. If I offended you, forgive me. That statement was made out of annoyance due to the challenges we face. These things are painful,” he said.
Clarifying his stance, the officer acknowledged that members of the public have the right to record police officers but argued that the practice should not be abused.
“You can video us; it is allowed. But it’s not right for just anyone to come from anywhere and start recording officers on duty. It has gone too far,” he added.
Isokpehi, who hails from Edo State and was raised in a police barracks in Kaduna, described himself as a committed officer with over a decade of service in the Mobile Police unit.
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He highlighted the sacrifices he has made in the line of duty, including surviving a deadly operation in which only two officers out of seventeen lived.
Displaying gunshot wounds on his body, he said, “We have suffered in this job. Out of 17 of us, only two survived. These scars show what we go through.
That is why I reacted the way I did.”
He firmly denied any real intention to harm civilians, describing his earlier statement as a verbal outburst.
“How can I say I will kill my own people? That is not who we are. It was just something I said out of anger,” he explained.
The officer concluded his apology by appealing to the public for understanding and expressing hope for improved welfare and working conditions for police personnel under the current leadership.
His initial video, in which he threatened to “clear everybody down,” including bystanders near anyone filming him, went viral across social media platforms on Wednesday, triggering widespread criticism.
As of the time of this report, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
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