UK Officer Under Probe for Telling Nigerian Women Not to Report Husbands to Police

A video showing a Metropolitan Police officer allegedly advising a group of Nigerian women not to report their husbands to the police but to “manage it” has resurfaced on social media six years after it was originally recorded, prompting an investigation.

EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the footage, filmed in 2018 at Divine Restoration International Church in Camberwell, shows the officer addressing a group, mainly women, while three other officers stand beside him. The video has sparked outrage from abuse charities.

In the clip, seen by the UK Mirror, the officer speaks in both Yoruba, a Nigerian language, and English. He discusses knife crime and suggests that sons may not listen to their mothers but prefer their fathers’ guidance.

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The officer allegedly goes on to claim that Nigerian women, upon arriving in the UK, start acting “rudely” toward their husbands and advises them not to call the police on their spouses, but to “manage it.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed to the UK Mirror that the footage has been referred to its professional standards unit for review. The charity Afruca, a children’s safeguarding group focused on Africa, has expressed outrage, filing a formal complaint.

The charity’s chief executive, Debbie Ariyo, condemned the officer’s remarks, stating, “He was essentially telling victims to stay in abusive relationships and not seek police protection.”

Ariyo further expressed her anger: “When I saw the video, I was livid. Domestic violence is not just physical—it includes emotional and sexual abuse. The officer’s remarks implied that women should not report abuse because doing so would disrupt their family, placing the blame on the victims.”

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She also highlighted the underrepresentation of violence against Black women in discussions on domestic abuse, citing that in 2022, of the 21 femicide victims recorded by the Metropolitan Police, nine (43%) were Black, a disproportionate rate compared to other ethnic groups.

Speaking on the matter, Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh clarified that the officer’s comments do not reflect the Metropolitan Police’s stance on domestic abuse.

He reiterated that victims should feel encouraged to report any abuse to the police. Adjei-Addoh also noted that the Met has implemented specialized domestic abuse investigation teams and collaborates with local authorities and charities to support victims and raise awareness.

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