Two police officers from the Rivers State Police Command have been arrested after they assaulted and brutally attacked a middle-aged man named Iyke in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.
A video capturing the incident has gone viral, showing the two armed police officers dragging and pushing the man towards their parked patrol van on the roadside.
The incident occurred on Saturday, July 8, 2023. In the video, the man, dressed in brown trousers and a black sleeveless casual shirt, can be seen attempting to explain something to the officers while refusing to comply with their instructions.
However, the officers, armed with AK-47 rifles, continued to drag the man, forcefully brought him to the ground, and eventually managed to force him into their van.
A male voice, commenting on the video, criticized the actions of the policemen, likening their behavior to that of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The commentator noted that such acts of brutality were a recurring issue in the Oyigbo area of the state. The unidentified individual in the video called on the public to share the footage until it reaches the appropriate authorities.
He stated, “Please you people should share this video because what they (police) are doing in Oyigbo is not good.
“What has this boy done now that they are dragging him? They have started again in Oyigbo. Somebody cannot dress well here.
“You people said SARS have gone, but they are still here. Instead you people. (making a veiled reference to SARS) changed name that you are cops.
“Please share this video and like.”
Similarly, a female voice that gave the name of the brutalised boy as Iyke, according to the trending video said, “What kind of this thing is this? Iyke, don’t follow them.
“They (the policeman) should not injure this boy. What has he done? Iyke don’t allow them, don’t follow them.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, has expressed his strong disapproval of the police officers’ actions, labeling it as unprofessional.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, it was confirmed that the two officers involved in the incident have been identified and subsequently arrested.
The statement reads, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka, has condemned the police assault and brutality of a man in a video trending on social media.
“The policemen in the video have been identified and arrested. They are currently at the Command undergoing trial for their unprofessional act which will serve as a deterrent to other police personnel.
The police appealed to the victim to come forward to the Public Relations Department of the command to give his own statement to aid the conclusion of the investigations and his identity will be protected.
“The commissioner of Police assures members of the public, that the police operatives will be investigated in line with extant rules underlying the conduct of police personnel and appropriate sanctions meted accordingly.
“The command further assures the good people of Rivers State of its unalloyed commitment to promoting the rule of law,” the statement added.
