Femi Ashekun/
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained popular social media influencer, Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, following intense public pressure triggered by a cryptic social media post by the police spokesperson on attempted suicide under Nigerian law.
Peller, 20, was taken into custody over allegations of attempted suicide and reckless driving after a viral video showed him crashing his vehicle while livestreaming on a Lagos highway.
The arrest comes a day after SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, made an online post alluding to an offence that attracts a one year jail term if attempted but carries no punishment if completed, a remark many social media users immediately linked to Peller’s case.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, SP Adebisi, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, confirmed the arrest and said it followed the circulation of a disturbing video recorded on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
According to the police, Peller was seen driving recklessly during a live broadcast, an action that led to a serious road traffic crash and endangered his life as well as that of other road users. The command said his conduct amounted to a deliberate attempt to take his own life and posed grave danger to the public.
The police disclosed that the matter is currently under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). They added that the outcome of the investigation would be made public and that Peller would be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction in line with the law.
The arrest followed a wave of reactions on X, where users demanded decisive action after SP Adebisi’s post revived debate around Section 327 of the Nigerian Criminal Code. The provision classifies attempted suicide as a misdemeanour punishable by up to one year in prison.
Many users insisted that the law should be enforced against Peller, with some openly calling the offence “the Peller offence” and urging the police to act rather than remain silent.
Others, however, urged caution, arguing that the incident should be properly investigated and treated as a mental health issue rather than a purely criminal matter.
The online pressure intensified after the influencer was seen hospitalised following the crash, which occurred on the Lekki–Epe Expressway while he appeared visibly distressed during the livestream.
Beyond the attempted suicide allegation, authorities have also raised concerns about reckless and distracted driving linked to content creation.
The Federal Road Safety Corps had earlier indicated plans to prosecute Peller for traffic violations associated with livestreaming behind the wheel, reflecting broader regulatory anxiety over influencers flouting road safety rules for online engagement.
Reacting to the arrest, the Lagos Commissioner of Police warned social media influencers and content creators against using digital platforms to promote dangerous, unlawful or reckless behaviour. He stressed that such conduct would not be tolerated and that offenders would face the full weight of the law.
The command also urged motorists to comply strictly with traffic regulations, reiterating its commitment to public safety.
Meanwhile, the case has reignited debate over Nigeria’s continued criminalisation of attempted suicide. Legal experts and advocacy groups have long criticised the law as outdated, arguing that it discourages people in crisis from seeking help.
Bills before the National Assembly seek to replace imprisonment with compulsory counselling and community service, but until reforms are passed, the provision remains enforceable.
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