The Imo State Police Command has arrested and detained four officers after a viral video showed them forcing a man into the boot of a saloon car in Owerri, the state capital. The incident occurred on Sunday at about 9:00 a.m. along Human Race Road in the Nekede area, according to the state police spokesman, Henry Okoye.
Incident Details
Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said in a statement on Monday that the video, which circulated on Facebook, showed the officers struggling with the victim as they forced him into the boot. The man resisted but was eventually locked inside. The police command, upon receiving information about the incident, ordered an immediate investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, directed that the personnel involved be identified and the circumstances surrounding the incident be established. Preliminary findings revealed that the officers comprised two police officers attached to the Nekede Divisional Headquarters and two supernumerary police officers.
Operation Context
The officers were conducting an operation at a suspected drug trafficking location in the area, during which two suspects were arrested. Substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa were recovered from one suspect, who admitted to selling illicit drugs in the area. Despite the operation's outcome, the police command condemned the officers' conduct.
In the statement, Mr Okoye said: “Notwithstanding the outcome of the operation, the Imo State Police Command unequivocally condemns the unprofessional conduct of the personnel as captured in the viral video. The manner in which one of the suspects was arrested and forced into the boot of a vehicle is unacceptable, inhumane, and completely not in conformity with the Standard Operating Procedures, Code of Conduct, and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.”
Disciplinary Measures
Mr Okoye continued: “Consequently, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate detention of the four officers. The case has been referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a detailed and impartial investigation, while appropriate disciplinary procedures have commenced against the erring officers.” He assured that the investigation's outcome would be made public upon completion.
The spokesman reiterated the commissioner's commitment to combating crime while ensuring that all policing operations are conducted professionally, lawfully, and with due respect for the rights and dignity of every individual.
Recurring Police Misconduct
This incident is not isolated. Cases of police brutality, extortion, and extrajudicial killings have persisted in Nigeria despite sanctions. Less than a month ago, police in Ebonyi State detained officers who allegedly assaulted a man and gouged out his right eye. In June, Imo police detained six operatives filmed assaulting a young man. In May, police arrested officers who assaulted passengers in Abia State.
In April, a police officer, Nuhu Usman, and three others were filmed shooting a handcuffed man to death in Delta State. They were arrested, transferred to the Force Headquarters, and later dismissed for professional misconduct. Earlier that month, the Delta State Commissioner of Police ordered the orderly room trial of two officers for extorting motorists with a Point of Sales Machine.
Other Incidents
In March, police in Anambra State illegally arrested, tortured, and extorted N1.4 million from some Nigerians, refunding the money after public outrage. Also in March, six senior officers in Anambra were detained for torturing and extorting N200,000 from a trader in Onitsha. In February, three officers were dismissed for kidnapping, extorting N1.7 million, and car snatching in Imo.
In January, police shot dead a private motorcyclist in Ebonyi State. In November 2024, police from the Crack Squad in Abakaliki shot a labourer dead and injured three others. A similar incident in 2018 saw a police officer kill a commercial motorcyclist for refusing a N50 bribe. In August 2024, police in Bayelsa State extorted N3 million from a man at gunpoint, returning the money three weeks later after a petition.
Police Response
The Imo State Police Command's swift action in this latest case reflects an ongoing effort to address misconduct, but the recurrence of such incidents highlights systemic challenges within the Nigeria Police Force. The command has pledged to keep the public informed as the investigation progresses.
