Two Men Arrested for Pretending to Be NDLEA Officers in Abia

The Abia State Police have arrested two men for pretending to be operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. This happened after a video went viral showing them beating and handcuffing a tricycle rider in Umuahia.

The suspects are Anthony Kelechi, 41, and Bright Abraham, 42. Police detectives from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, arrested them after looking into the video.

DSP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer, shared this in a statement on Wednesday. She said the arrests came after the video circulated on social media. In the video, one man was dressed like a community security officer, while the other wore plain clothes. They were seen physically assaulting and handcuffing a commercial tricycle driver.

Initial investigations showed that the suspects belong to the Social Watch Anti-Drugs Abuse Advocacy. This group aims to raise awareness against drug abuse. But Chinaka alleged that the two men used the group as a cover to act like NDLEA officers and conduct illegal activities in Umuahia.

The police spokesperson stated that the suspects were involved in illegal arrests and extorted money from the public while pretending to enforce drug laws. "The suspects were arrested following a viral video on social media depicting two individuals, one dressed in attire resembling that of a community security operative and the other in plain clothes, assaulting and handcuffing an autorickshaw rider (keke driver)," the statement read.

She also mentioned that investigations are still ongoing. The police are committed to ensuring the suspects are properly prosecuted. "Discreet investigation is ongoing to ensure diligent prosecution of the suspects to serve as a deterrent to others," Chinaka said.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Danladi Isa, took this chance to warn the public against taking the law into their own hands. He explained that while Section 20 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act allows citizens to arrest offenders, they must hand them over to the police immediately.

"The use of force, assault, intimidation, or impersonation of law enforcement agencies in order to extort remains unlawful, criminal and will not be tolerated," the commissioner warned.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting lives and property. They also urged residents to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or emergency lines. This arrest comes as concerns grow over impersonation of security personnel by criminals who want to exploit unsuspecting members of the public. Security agencies have repeatedly warned against unauthorized actions by individuals or groups not recognized by law.