By Comfort Idenyi (Ebonyi State Correspondent, in Abakaliki)
The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, said it is aware of a trending video circulating on social media with the caption, “This police brutality becoming is too much.”
The Command in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said it "wishes to state categorically that the caption is misleading, mischievous, and completely at variance with the facts of what transpired. To clarify and prevent the public from being misled, the Command hereby provides the proper context.
"On 11th September 2026, operatives of the Command, while on routine patrol around Ahiaofu, sighted a vehicle being driven without a registration plate number. The officers flagged the vehicle down, rather than comply with the instruction to stop, the driver, Mr. Oketa Chigozie, apparently either out of inexperience or in an attempt to evade the police, rammed his vehicle into the rear of the police patrol vehicle.
"Mr. Oketa got down from his vehicle and was informed by the officers that he would be taken, alongside the vehicle, to the station for appropriate action over the violation. Rather than cooperate with the officers, he became verbally abusive and began making a scene, with other occupants of the vehicle joining in the confrontation. The officers, however, maintained restraint and later took him to the station.
"At the station, Mr. Oketa explained that he had only recently purchased the vehicle and that it was brought to him on 10 September 2026. According to him, he was on his way to show the newly acquired vehicle to members of his family when he was stopped by the police. He further admitted that the damage sustained to the grille of his vehicle angered him and led him to verbally abuse the police officers.
"He was informed that it is unlawful to drive a vehicle on public roads without a valid registration plate and the requisite vehicle documentation. Having understood the legal implications of his actions, he expressed remorse, apologised to the officers he had verbally assaulted, and proposed to make an apology video to his followers explaining what actually transpired.
"He was later released and cautioned not to drive the vehicle until the necessary registration and documentation had been regularised.
"The Command therefore urges members of the public, particularly motorists, to ensure that their vehicles are properly registered and documented before putting them on public roads. The Police will continue to enforce traffic and other relevant laws without fear or favour.
"The Command also advises members of the public to respect police officers who are carrying out their lawful duties. Disagreement with police officers while on lawful duty does not confer the right to abuse, obstruct, or assault officers, nor does it justify the deliberate distortion of events on social media in an attempt to portray lawful police action as brutality". NNL.
