Nigerian rapper, Panshak Zamani, popularly known as Ice Prince was earlier today arrested by the Lagos state police command, for assaulting a police officer.
It was learned that at about 3a.m on Friday, the rap star was flagged down by police officers for driving without a license plate.
Ice Prince who initially agreed to be taken to the station immediately, abducted the police officer in his car, assaulted him, and threatened to throw him in the lagoon.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of Lagos state police command SP Benjamin Hundeyin said Ice Prince has been arrested and would be arraigned today.
According to Hundeyin “at about 3a.m @Iceprincezamani was stopped for driving without license plates. He agreed to be taken to the station.
He, thereafter, abducted the police officer in his car, assaulted him, and threatened to throw him in the river. He has been arrested and would be arraigned today.”
The arrest of the rapper has stirred mixed reactions on social media as the singer currently trends on Twitter platform. Nigerians on social media seem to have some sentiments as many tweeps knocked the police and sought to hear the singer’s side. Some others, however, stressed that Ice Prince was not above the law.
Here are some of the tweets gathered from Twitter:
“Ice Prince driving without license plates, I can believe. Him assaulting a police officer in Lagos by 3:00 am, I can’t believe without evidence,” says @snrmanOA.
“Lol, if you’ve had any altercation with the police, especially in Lagos, you’d know why it’s so hard to believe,” he added.
@drpenking said, “I would still love to hear Ice Prince’s side of the story because how did an armless citizen abduct an armed policeman? How come the policeman was alone? What about his colleagues? Some things are not adding up.”
“It took Nigerian police less than eight hours to arrest Ice Prince for harrassing their officer but it will take them forever to respond when ordinary Nigerian is being harassed by police, Naija police doesn’t understand innocent until proven guilty, they treat every suspect as a criminal.
“Have you seen how the United States police approach suspect when they want to interrogate them or make an arrest? the process is always easy, smooth and violence free. Here, to do ordinary stop and search, police will attack you as if you just robbed the Central Bank of Nigeria, so embarrassing, ” @Tee_Classiquem1 tweeted.
@JoeyAkan said, “My heart is with Ice Prince.
“If you know how Nigerian police officers lie and entrap you when things don’t go their way, you’ll never believe everything they say, especially when they see an opportunity to chase PR spotlight as victims of the populace.”
@JdiBobby tweeted, saying he didn’t trust the police, “I still don’t trust y’all Nigerian police. Speaking from experience, y’all can say and do anything if someone doesn’t play your ball by giving you bribe. Will wait for Ice Prince @Iceprincezamani to speak. Don’t trust y’all.”
Being a celebrity doesn’t place you above the law, said @SirDavidBent, who tweeted, “Ice Prince abducted a police officer and threatened to throw that same officer into a river. He has been arrested and will be arraigned on several criminal charges/counts.
“Being a celebrity doesn’t mean you’re above the law. He might end up being jailed for a while.”
@Mbahdeyforyou said, “We don hear police side of the story, true true wetin Ice Prince do no good.”
@iSlimfit said, ‘What was Ice Prince thinking? He could have at least called one of his connects in the police to sort him out instead of this embarrassment he put himself into. Now he’ll be made scapegoat.”
@mogsteady also tweeted, saying “Look at how quick police was to arrest Ice Prince and post on Twitter, the same police that will take three days to answer our tags here over police brutality.
@ddannykeyz said, “So, you are telling me that on this same app where we are privy to horrific stories of police brutality, wanton abuse of power, and extortion, yet we automatically agree that Ice Prince abducted an armed police officer? The brain drain is crazy. Una don dey trust police?”
@_oluwaseun9 said, “Once Nigerian police catches you come use their Itel camera snap you, your colour must change. see my blud Ice Prince.”
The police had said the singer would be arraigned today, Friday 02 September, 2022.