The Imo State Police Command has ordered the detention of four security personnel after a viral video showed a young man being forced into the boot of a vehicle at Human Race Road, Nekede, in an operation the command has since condemned as unprofessional.
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., according to a press statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye. The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed men in police-style uniforms locking a suspect inside a car boot, prompting outrage online and calls for accountability. Commissioner of Police for Imo State, CP Audu Garba Bosso, ordered an immediate investigation to identify those involved and establish the circumstances of the arrest, the statement said.
Preliminary findings identified the four personnel as two police officers attached to the Nekede Divisional Headquarters and two Supernumerary Police Officers. According to the command, they were carrying out an operation at a suspected drug trafficking location on Human Race Road when two suspects were arrested. Substances suspected to be cannabis sativa were recovered from one of the suspects, who allegedly admitted to selling illicit drugs in the area.
Despite the outcome of the operation, the command said it “unequivocally condemns” the conduct of the officers as shown in the video, describing the manner of the arrest as inhumane and a breach of the Nigeria Police Force’s standard operating procedures, code of conduct, and professional ethics.
The Commissioner has ordered the immediate detention of the four officers, and the case has been referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation. The command said disciplinary proceedings against the officers have begun, and the outcome of the investigation will be made public once concluded.The command reaffirmed its commitment to professional and lawful policing that respects the rights and dignity of citizens.
The video first drew attention after a Facebook user who shared the footage described it as alarming and called on the police to investigate, questioning whether the men involved were genuine officers. The clip has since fueled broader public debate over conduct within Nigeria’s security forces, particularly around the treatment of suspects during arrest operations.
