The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained popular social media influencer Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, following a viral video that showed him driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle during a live broadcast on social media.
The arrest, confirmed on Tuesday, came after widespread public outrage over the incident, which occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025. In the video, the influencer was seen engaging in dangerous driving behaviour that ultimately resulted in a road crash while viewers watched in real time.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the command acted swiftly after the footage surfaced online and raised serious safety concerns.
According to the police, Peller’s conduct posed a grave risk not only to his own life but also to other road users.
“The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained, for further investigation, Habeeb Hamzat, also known as ‘Peller,’ following the viral video that emerged on Sunday, December 14, 2025, in which he was seen driving recklessly, resulting in a dangerous road crash while the incident was being live-streamed,” the statement read in part.
The command stressed that the influencer’s actions were extremely dangerous and could have resulted in fatalities.
“His actions constitute a deliberate attempt to endanger his own life and the lives of other innocent road users,” the police added.
The police disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a comprehensive and detailed 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 statement said.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, issued a strong warning to social media influencers, content creators and members of the public against using online platforms to promote or engage in unlawful and dangerous acts.
“The Commissioner of Police strongly warns social media influencers and the general public to desist from exploiting social media platforms to carry out or promote reckless, dangerous, unlawful or criminal behaviour,” the statement noted.
CP Jimoh emphasized that such conduct would no longer be tolerated, regardless of the individual’s social status or online popularity.
“Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, and the full weight of the law will be applied to any offender. The Command urges all road users to strictly comply with traffic regulations and assures residents of its unwavering commitment to public safety,” the police said.
The incident has reignited public debate about the growing trend of risky stunts by content creators seeking online engagement and viral attention. Many Nigerians have called for stricter enforcement of traffic and public safety laws to deter similar behaviour.
Authorities have repeatedly warned that road traffic crashes remain a major public safety concern in Lagos, with speeding, distracted driving and disregard for traffic rules identified as leading causes of accidents.
The police reiterated that anyone found engaging in conduct capable of endangering lives would be prosecuted, stressing that online influence does not place anyone above the law.
