I Spent 4 Days In Police Cell Without Food Or Bath – Peller

Popular TikToker Peller Details Harsh Four-Day Detention After Clash with Lagos Police

Popular Nigerian content creator Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, has recounted spending four days in police custody without food or access to a bath following his arrest along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road. The 20-year-old streamer and his associate, Bello Oladipo, were detained after a confrontation with officers who stopped their vehicle for lacking a registration plate.

Peller and Oladipo were arrested on July 2 in the Lekki area. Police said the vehicle was unregistered, in line with directives to curb unidentifiable cars on public roads. The situation escalated when the content creators allegedly resisted arrest, obstructed officers, threatened them, and filmed the operation. They were arraigned on Monday, July 9, at a Lagos Magistrate Court on a three-count charge. Both pleaded not guilty.

The court granted each N500,000 bail with sureties. Peller later took to Snapchat to share his ordeal, describing conditions in the cell as dehumanising. He appeared unkempt in his posts, stating he had neither eaten properly nor bathed during the detention period, an experience he said he never imagined.

Peller, who hails from Ikorodu in Lagos State, rose to prominence around 2023 with his distinctive sarcastic streaming style. He boasts millions of followers across TikTok and other platforms, holding records for high-viewership streams in Africa. The young creator has previously made headlines, including a 2025 incident involving reckless driving and a reported suicide attempt during a livestream, which also led to police involvement.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, a major federal infrastructure project, has seen heightened security presence. The government deployed patrol teams and vehicles earlier this year to combat vandalism, theft of facilities, and crime along the corridor. Officers on the route enforce traffic and safety regulations strictly, especially regarding unregistered vehicles, amid concerns over road safety and potential criminal activity.

This latest episode highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and young social media influencers who often document encounters in real time. Peller’s large online following amplified the story, sparking widespread debate about police conduct, citizens’ rights to record public officials, and the challenges of enforcing regulations on Nigeria’s evolving road networks.

In the broader context, the case underscores issues of police accountability and welfare of detainees in Nigeria. While authorities maintain they acted within the law to maintain order, accounts like Peller’s raise questions about conditions in holding facilities and the balance between enforcement and basic human dignity. Legal experts note that such incidents often test the limits of citizens’ rights under the 1999 Constitution, particularly freedom of expression and protection from degrading treatment.

Peller’s release on bail allows him to prepare his defence while the case proceeds. His experience adds to a growing list of high-profile encounters between content creators and security agencies, reflecting the complex intersection of digital influence, youth culture, and law enforcement in contemporary Nigeria.

The development serves as a reminder of the need for mutual respect and adherence to due process in maintaining public order.