Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended ASP Sunday Erhabor, the police officer attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) who was assaulted by one Victor Ebhomenyen at Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, in the Oniru area of Lagos State over the weekend.
Speaking at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Monday while receiving the officer, Mr. Sanwo-Olu commended him for displaying high level of professionalism and calmness in the face of assault by the driver who was stopped for driving against traffic.
Sanwo-Olu said Mr. Erhabor’s action is a testimonial and encouragement for other officers to show that they can be civil in the face of provocation or assault from suspected criminals.
“This is our own little response to the very condemnable events that happened over the weekend. We are all very quick to condemn men of the Nigeria Police, especially when they are found wanting. We are always very quick to also admonish them. But the event that we all saw over the weekend showed that indeed there are some very commendable police officers.
“In the real heat of provocation, ASP Erhabor displayed high quality of restraint. He displayed calmness and restrained himself from taking laws into his hands. And I think for that little gesture, it is important for us to bring him out so that we also can use him as a testimonial and encouragement for other police officers to show that indeed they can be civil and that police are meant to protect our citizens. They are meant to also be law-abiding and the likes of ASP Sunday Erhabor today can be a source of encouragement to others.
“On behalf of the government and the entire people of Lagos State through the Commissioner of Police, I want to commend ASP Erhabor for show of patience, decorum and what is expected of a Police officer. And I want to implore other police officers to see that indeed there are times when you may be provoked; restraint is the word and see it that there are some members of the general public that can be very violent, please restrain and let the normal cause of law take its full course,” Sanwo-Olu said.
One Etinosa Obayuwana, who was in the car with Ebhomenyen and joined him in assaulting Erhabor, was said to be on the run in a statement released by the police on Sunday.
