The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims by social media influencer and Nollywood actress Abike Raheem, popularly known as Papaya Ex, that she was assaulted by an officer during a late-night stop in the Ajah area of Lagos.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, presented an account that differed from the one shared by the actress during a TikTok livestream. According to him, the incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. when officers conducting routine night patrol stopped a vehicle carrying five individuals — three men and two women — including the influencer.
Hundeyin explained that officers attempted to carry out a standard search of the vehicle, but Papaya Ex allegedly objected and declined to cooperate. He claimed she insisted that the car could not be searched and referenced her public status. The police spokesman added that she opted to head to a police station instead of complying at the scene, leading one officer to enter her vehicle after she initially resisted that move.
The police statement further indicated that her car drove ahead while the patrol team followed behind. However, officers alleged that she directed her driver to accelerate suddenly, leaving the patrol vehicle trailing. As a result, the patrol team reportedly contacted another police unit for assistance in intercepting the vehicle. Hundeyin said it was after this interception that the influencer began broadcasting live on TikTok.
The police also noted that the occupants of the vehicle were unable to immediately provide valid identification when requested. He stated that the Lagos State Police Command has now taken over the case and will provide additional information as investigations continue.
In contrast, Papaya Ex claimed during her livestream that the stop escalated into violence. She alleged that an officer struck her in the face with a gun, assaulted her driver, confiscated her phone, and touched her inappropriately. The video did not show the alleged attack, which she attributed to poor network connectivity.
