A Nigerian man has taken to social media to allege a disturbing incident of police brutality and extortion by officers of the Nigerian Police Force in Owerri, Imo State.
In a now-viral video shared via X (formerly Twitter), the visibly bruised man recounted how he was harassed, assaulted, and forced to transfer money to police officers while on his way to buy food.
According to his narration, he was approached by uniformed officers who ordered him to enter their vehicle. When he questioned their motive, one of the officers allegedly slapped him.
“They said I should go into the car with them. I asked why. One officer from inside the car slapped me. I entered, they handcuffed me, started asking me where I was from, what I do, and they were hitting me so hard,” he said.
The man said the officers took him to a secluded, bushy area, where they forced him to unlock his phone and open his bank application. Despite not finding any incriminating content, they allegedly demanded he transfer the money in his account.
“They took me into a bush, beat me, and forced me to transfer ₦30,000 to them — all I had. After that, they returned my phone and ATM card and told me to leave,” he added.
The emotional video ends with a plea to authorities and the public:
“This is becoming too much in Owerri, Imo State. There’s no free movement again. I was just going to get something to eat.
”The incident has sparked outrage online, with citizens and rights groups demanding accountability and swift investigation. Activists are once again urging the Nigerian Police Force and the government to take meaningful action against unlawful police conduct, particularly the targeting of young people.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the Imo State Police Command.
