“I didn’t mean it” — Police officer who threatened to kill anyone recording him on duty apologises after viral outrage

• A police officer has apologised after threatening people who record officers on duty.

• The officer said his statement was made “out of anger.”

• The viral video sparked outrage and criticism online.

• The incident has reignited conversations about citizens’ rights to film police officers.

A Nigerian police officer who came under fire after threatening to kill anyone who recorded him while on duty has apologised following widespread backlash over the viral video.

The officer had earlier sparked outrage online after a video surfaced showing him warning members of the public against filming police officers during operations.

The statement triggered heavy criticism on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the remarks and describing them as intimidation and an abuse of authority.

Following the backlash, the officer released an apology, insisting that his comments were made in anger and were not intended to be taken literally.

“I made the statement out of anger. Please forgive me. You can record us on duty, just that some Nigerians have taken it beyond necessary,” he said.

“You shouldn’t treat us like that. Please forgive me, I didn’t mean it like that. I can’t kill my people,” the officer added.

The controversy has also revived discussions about the rights of Nigerians to film security personnel while carrying out official duties.

The Nigeria Police Force has previously stated that citizens are allowed to record officers on duty provided they do not obstruct operations or interfere with law enforcement activities.

In recent years, videos recorded by members of the public have played a major role in exposing alleged police misconduct, extortion, harassment, and abuse of power across the country.

Because of this, many Nigerians online insisted that recording police officers remains an important tool for accountability and public protection.

RELATED: Save these numbers now — Nigerian Police release contacts to report any police misconduct and officers without name tags

Despite the apology, the incident has continued to generate reactions online, with many calling for improved police-citizen relations and better training on professionalism and public conduct.

The development adds to a growing number of viral police-related incidents that continue to fuel nationwide conversations about accountability, transparency, and trust in Nigeria’s law enforcement system.