The Lagos State Police Command has taken into custody popular social media influencer, Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, following a viral video that showed him driving dangerously and crashing his vehicle while broadcasting live on social media.
The arrest, confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, came after widespread public outrage over the incident, which occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
According to the police, the influencer’s conduct posed a grave threat to public safety and demanded swift action by law enforcement.
“The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained, for further investigation, Habeeb Hamzat, also known as ‘Peller’, following the circulation of a viral video on Sunday, December 14, 2025, in which he was seen driving recklessly, resulting in a serious road crash while live-streaming the incident, thereby endangering his life and the lives of other road users,” the statement said.
The command described the act as extremely dangerous and warned that it could have had fatal consequences, not only for the influencer but also for unsuspecting members of the public.
Police further stated that the stunt amounted to a deliberate disregard for human life, adding that such behaviour borders on an attempt to cause self-harm while exposing other road users to avoidable danger.
Investigators have since transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough and comprehensive probe.
“The matter is currently under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department. At the conclusion of the investigation, the outcome will be made public, and the suspect will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the law,” the police disclosed.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, issued a stern warning to social media influencers, content creators and the general public against using online platforms to promote or engage in reckless, unlawful or criminal behaviour.
“The Commissioner of Police strongly warns social media influencers and members of the public to desist from exploiting social media platforms to engage in or promote dangerous, reckless or criminal acts,” the statement added.
CP Jimoh stressed that such conduct would no longer be tolerated, assuring Lagos residents that the command would enforce the law without fear or favour.
“Such lawlessness will not be condoned. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on any offender. The Lagos State Police Command urges all road users to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and remains fully committed to the protection of lives and property,” he said.
The incident has once again sparked intense public debate over the growing trend of risky stunts by content creators seeking online attention, with many Nigerians calling for tougher enforcement and deterrent measures.
Road traffic crashes remain a major public safety challenge in Lagos, with authorities repeatedly linking many accidents to speeding, distracted driving and disregard for traffic rules. The police have maintained that anyone found culpable of actions capable of endangering lives will be prosecuted, regardless of status or online influence.
