SEUN Kuti, a popular Afrobeat musician in Nigeria and the son of the late Fela Kuti, was arrested on Monday after being accused of assaulting a police officer in Lagos. The incident allegedly occurred on Saturday and was captured on video. Kuti turned himself in to the police on Monday and was taken to the Lagos State police headquarters, where he was seen in handcuffs.
According to police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, Kuti was detained because he was ‘captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform.’ The video, which was posted online, appeared to show an agitated Kuti pushing a police officer beside a police vehicle along a major road in Lagos.
While the cause of the confrontation remains unclear, Kuti tweeted that the officer had attempted to kill him and his family by trying to ram their car. The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered an investigation into the incident and promised that ‘acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated.’
Kuti’s arrest has sparked controversy among his fans and supporters. Some are questioning the police’s version of events, while others are calling for an end to police brutality in Nigeria.
Kuti, who has been outspoken on political issues in Nigeria and has criticised the government for its handling of various crises, has not yet issued a statement on his arrest.