The Imo State Police Command has arrested four officers after a viral video showed a young man being allegedly manhandled and forced into the boot of a vehicle during an operation in Nekede, sparking public outrage.
The incident occurred on Sunday along Human Race Road in Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area. The footage, which circulated widely on social media, prompted the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, to order an immediate investigation into the officers’ conduct.
In a statement issued on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said preliminary findings identified the officers in the video as two personnel attached to the Nekede Divisional Headquarters and two Supernumerary Police Officers.
According to the police, the officers were carrying out an operation at a location suspected to be linked to drug trafficking when they arrested two suspects. During the operation, substances believed to be Cannabis Sativa were reportedly recovered from one of the suspects, who allegedly admitted to selling illegal drugs in the area.
Despite the reported recovery, the police command said the officers’ actions captured in the video fell far below the professional standards expected of members of the Nigeria Police Force.
“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,” the statement said.
The command disclosed that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a comprehensive and impartial investigation. It also confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have already begun against the four officers, adding that the outcome of the investigation will be made public.
Reassuring residents, the Commissioner of Police reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling crime while ensuring that all policing operations are conducted professionally, lawfully and with full respect for the rights and dignity of every individual.
The latest development comes amid renewed public scrutiny of police conduct in Nigeria, with rights advocates continuing to call for greater accountability and strict adherence to operational procedures during arrests and law enforcement operations.
