Imo Police Arrest Six Officers for Assaulting Man

The police in Imo State, in South-east Nigeria, have arrested six officers who were caught on video beating a man in the state.

Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in the state, shared this news in a statement on Wednesday.

A video clip recently appeared on Facebook. It showed at least six armed police officers hitting a man along a road. Most of the officers used sticks to strike the man, who eventually ran away when the pain became too much.

This incident reportedly happened on Monday in Nduhobokwe, Uzoagba, a community in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo.

In the Wednesday statement, Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said they quickly identified and arrested the officers after reviewing the viral video.

The officers involved include two inspectors, Ugochukwu Ibe and Chimezi Nwachi, as well as three corporals - Michael Obi, Ebuka Onwuegbu, and Amos Sunny. The sixth officer, Austin Ugoezuhu, holds the rank of sergeant.

"As a result, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, Audu Garba Bosso, has ordered a thorough investigation to find out what happened and why the officers acted this way," Mr Okoye said.

He also mentioned that the officers have been taken into custody, and they are starting disciplinary actions according to the Nigeria Police Force rules.

Mr Okoye emphasized that the police in Imo are dedicated to professionalism and protecting citizens' rights. He noted that the officers' actions do not meet the standards expected from the Nigeria Police Force.

"The behavior of the officers in the video goes against the values, ethics, and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force," he said.

The spokesperson assured Imo residents that the investigation would be done "openly" and in line with proper procedures.

He promised that the findings of the investigation and the disciplinary measures would be shared with the public once complete.

Cases of police brutality, extortion, and other unprofessional conduct continue in Nigeria, despite efforts like dismissals.

This latest incident comes about a month after the Nigeria Police Force arrested officers for assaulting passengers in Abia State, as seen in another video.

In April, a police officer named Nuhu Usman and three others were filmed shooting a handcuffed man dead in Delta State.

The officers were initially arrested over this incident and later taken to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for disciplinary measures. They were eventually dismissed after their actions were found to be misconduct and abuse of power.