A deeply troubling account of police misconduct has emerged on social media, with a user on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that a group of officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit in Calabar unlawfully detained and extorted ₦300,000 from a university student after coercing him into confessing to a false drug-related charge.
According to the complaint, which has since garnered attention online, the incident took place on April 13, 2025, when the officers allegedly broke into the victim’s apartment without a warrant or legal cause. The victim, a student of the University of Calabar, is said to be a ward of the individual who posted the account.
“My ward called me in distress after a team of policemen forcibly entered his residence. They accused him without evidence and coerced him to swear an oath, falsely admitting to being a dealer of Indian hemp,” the post read.
The officers allegedly threatened the student at gunpoint, beat him, and demanded he transfer the entire balance in his account. Out of fear for his life, the young man reportedly contacted his relatives and managed to raise ₦300,000, which was transferred to the officers to secure his release.
The ordeal did not end there. According to the narrator, the policemen detained the student overnight, subjected him to physical assault, and demanded that he act as an informant on other young men in the area. Before releasing him, they issued a chilling warning: keep quiet or face deadly consequences.
“He was told not to speak out or they would ‘come back for his head.’ This has left him traumatized, injured, and afraid to return to school,” the guardian said.
The victim has since lodged a formal complaint at the Uwanse Police Division, where he provided a statement detailing the events. He also submitted evidence including bank transaction receipts and a photo showing an injury to his eye allegedly sustained during the assault.
“My ward is living in constant fear. He’s a hardworking student struggling to make ends meet. Unless urgent steps are taken, he may abandon his education out of fear,” the complainant stated, calling for immediate intervention.
The post concluded with an appeal to the Nigeria Police Force and its Public Complaint Response Unit (@PoliceNG_CRU) to investigate the incident and ensure justice is served.
“We are counting on the integrity of the Police Force to protect innocent citizens. He is ready to provide all the necessary information to back his claims.”
As of now, there has been no official response from the authorities regarding the allegation.
