The Lagos State Police Command has tendered a public apology for a mix-up following the alleged arrest of a popular Nigerian disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, aka DJ Switch.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made the apology via his X handle Thursday, stating that the arrested DJ was “DJ Commissioner Wysei, not DJ Switch.”
Hundeyin wrote, “There is a mixup from our end. The arrested person is DJ Commissioner Wysei, not DJ Switch.
“Apologies for all the inconvenience to a few media outfits like Linda Ikeji, BBC and TVC that I gave confirmation this morning.
“Apologies to DJ Switch too.”
PUNCH Online gathered that some media outlets had published the news of DJ Switch’s arrest on Thursday by operatives of the Nigeria Police.
One of the published news on the arrest reported that the female disc jockey was arrested for “obstructing police while on duty, resisting arrest, and assaulting officers.”
The report read that DJ Switch “was at the police station in Elemoro, Ajah on Monday, April 15 to complain about a man who allegedly defrauded her.
“According to the police, the man was arrested on the same day and has been in police custody.
“It was alleged that while the officers were about to drive the accused to court, DJ Switch blocked the station’s entrance and assaulted the female officer assigned to the case.”
DJ Switch garnered more prominence in 2020 when she took to her Instagram page to do a live coverage that showed protesters being shot at by personnel of the Nigerian Army at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #EndSARS protest that rocked the nation.
However, reacting to the news via her X handle Thursday morning, the disc jockey denied reports of her arrest.
She noted that while she is “not a fan of many of our policemen and women,” she doesn’t support “violence against the police.”
The DJ wrote, “Good morning all. I was woken up by a barrage of calls and texts this morning. I wondered why because I know today is not my birthday. Only to find that I have been arrested.
“One of the links that was sent to me alleged that I had assaulted the police. Now, while I am not a fan of many of our policemen and women, I do not condone nor support violence against the police.
“Our blogs have such an unhealthy appetite for traffic that they can’t even spend the transport fare it would cost them to go investigate and make certain of the news they share with the public. This false reporting is dangerous and negatively shapes narratives.”
She accused the media outlets that made the report of defamation of character, adding that they “have till the end of the day to take down this false news and kindly replace with a post correcting their mistake.”
Her tweets read, “Many people want so badly to believe I am just like those I’ve fought against or believe that I have sacrificed all I have ever worked for just to bring down Nigeria. This is false.
“That being said, my lawyers have screenshotted every blog they can find this false news and this is defamation of my character. These blogs have till the end of the day to take down this false news and kindly replace it with a post correcting their mistake.
“I am not looking for cheap publicity, I hate clout chasing and I actually am not an ass because I was advised to sue immediately which would cost them all a lot. So please do the needful and let us learn. Thank you!”
However, DJ Switch later acknowledged the State PPRO’s apology, saying, “Thank you! Apologies accepted.”
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