A distressing video showing well-known Nigerian streamer Habeeb Okikiola (Peller) being punched by a police officer during a night traffic stop has gone viral, prompting widespread criticism of law enforcement behavior.
Captured on Peller’s phone, the footage shows him seated in the back seat of his car after being pulled over in Lekki.
When he began recording the incident, one officer approached and, despite Peller’s compliance, swung a punch at his face causing the recording to blur momentarily
The punching officer is later informed by a colleague that he recognized Peller, after which the assault subsided.
Peller later shared his version on social media:
“I was coming back from Ikorodu… they said we should open the boot… next, they asked everyone to get out for a search. I just had my phone… next thing, he punched me in the face… the rest said he didn’t know I was me, that this is how they treat random people.”
The ordeal ignited a wave of online responses. One viewer commented poignantly:
“What if na random person.”
Other users reflected on the broader implications of the incident, questioning whether celebrities are treated better than most Nigerians in similar circumstances.
This isn’t the first time Peller has found himself in a viral conflict.
The incident adds fuel to ongoing public discourse around police accountability, and the rights of citizens during routine law enforcement operations.
