Police PRO Benjamin Hundeyin Counters Papaya Ex Assault Allegations: "She Refused Routine Search and Attempted to Evade Officers

The Nigeria Police Force, through Force Public Relations Officer ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, has issued a detailed response to claims of assault made by popular social media influencer and content creator Abike Raheem, known as **Papaya Ex**, following a late-night encounter with officers in the Ajah area of Lagos.

In a statement posted on his verified social media handle on Saturday, February 21, 2026, Hundeyin provided the police account of events, describing the incident as beginning "just before 2 a.m." when officers on routine night patrol stopped a vehicle carrying three men and two women—including Papaya Ex—for a standard vehicle search.

According to Hundeyin, the influencer "bluntly refused" the search, reportedly stating, “You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me.” He alleged that she then instructed her driver to speed away, prompting officers to pursue and intercept the vehicle. An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) subsequently entered the SUV to address the situation, after which the live TikTok session began.

The statement emphasized that Papaya Ex's viral video and allegations focused on events after her alleged non-cooperation, omitting the preceding details that led to the escalation. Hundeyin noted that the Lagos State Police Command (@LagosPoliceNG) would handle further investigations and provide additional clarifications.

This response directly counters Papaya Ex's emotional TikTok live from the early hours of Saturday, where she displayed visible facial bruising and accused an officer of striking her face and breasts with a gun, inappropriately touching her, assaulting her driver, and seizing her phone. She claimed full cooperation with documents provided and denied resisting or boasting about her status, insisting she was simply returning from a movie shoot and focused on content creation for her YouTube channel (@papayaextv).

The conflicting narratives have fueled intense online debate, with supporters of Papaya Ex calling for justice and an independent probe into alleged police misconduct, while others question her version amid the police counter-claims. The incident has reignited broader discussions on stop-and-search practices, police conduct during nighttime operations, and accountability in Lagos.

**ACP Benjamin Hundeyin (from official statement):** “She bluntly refused, saying, ‘You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me.’ ... Then the live began. @LagosPoliceNG will take it from here.”

The Lagos State Police Command has indicated that disciplinary measures could follow if any misconduct is substantiated, though no formal investigation outcome has been announced. Papaya Ex has continued to deny the police version in follow-up posts, urging the public not to believe falsehoods and reiterating her desire to focus on her creative work.

The matter remains under scrutiny as public reactions pour in across social media platforms, highlighting ongoing tensions between citizens and law enforcement in routine encounters.