ABUJA, Nigeria — The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the arrest of Afrobeat star Seun Kuti on charges of assaulting a police officer, according to an official statement.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command to arrest Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, who was captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform,” said the statement, released on Saturday, May 13, 2023, by Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The incident, which has sparked widespread controversy, is set to undergo a full and speedy investigation.
“The IGP has equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly,” the statement added.
This action by Mr. Kuti, son of the legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, has provoked mixed reactions in a country grappling with police brutality and civil unrest.
IGP Baba’s resolve to address this issue has been underscored in his statement, asserting that disregard for symbols of authority will not be tolerated in the country.
“IGP Usman Alkali Baba assures Nigerians that acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated while offenders of such hideous crimes will be surely brought to book,” Adejobi quoted the Inspector General as saying.
As the news of the pending arrest spreads, there is growing tension in the entertainment industry and the wider public, awaiting further developments in this unprecedented event involving one of Nigeria’s most beloved musical figures.
