A serving officer of the Nigeria Police Force, identified as Inspector Olowookere Michael, has sparked public outrage after being captured on video physically assaulting his wife in front of their children. The assault reportedly occurred after she asked him for financial support to cover part of their children’s unpaid school fees.
Inspector Olowookere, with service number AP/No. 312249, is attached to the Mobile Police (MOPOL) 39 Squadron in Osogbo, Osun State, and is originally from Ijero, Ekiti State.
In the widely circulated footage, the inspector is seen hitting his wife repeatedly, while their children sob and plead with him to stop the violent attack.
A source from within the Zone XI Command Headquarters in Osogbo confirmed that the video was received by the authorities. The incident was said to have occurred after the children were sent home from school for not paying their third-term examination fees. When the wife approached him for assistance to clear the balance, he reportedly became enraged and attacked her.
According to the source, this wasn’t an isolated incident. The officer allegedly has a long history of domestic violence and often beats his wife over trivial matters.
The latest incident has drawn condemnation and internal attention from police authorities, especially amid wider concerns over officer misconduct.
Meanwhile, this development coincides with moves by the police hierarchy to block a planned peaceful protest by retired officers demanding better welfare and pension reforms. The protest was being organized in collaboration with human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Reports indicate that the Nigeria Police issued urgent directives to commands in Delta and Edo States to prevent the protest from holding. A wireless signal dated July 8, 2025 (DTO: 081145/07/2025), originating from the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in Zone 5, Benin, instructed the Commissioners of Police in Asaba and Benin to take swift action to stop the gathering.
The directive, which was also forwarded to the Inspector General of Police and other senior officers at Force Headquarters in Abuja, was based on intelligence suggesting that Sowore intended to participate in the demonstration alongside the retired officers.