31/10/2026
Police Summon Rivers Officers Over Viral Video Showing Motorist Being Threatened And Assaulted During Search
A routine police search in Rivers State has now triggered an internal investigation after a video emerged showing an officer threatening a motorist, ordering him to remove his necklace and glasses, and eventually engaging him in a physical confrontation.
The incident, which has attracted public attention, took another turn after the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the officers involved had been identified and summoned for questioning.
The Police Complaint Response Unit, CRU, announced the development in a statement published on its official X account.
According to the unit, the officers seen in the footage were invited to its office for a detailed investigation, with appropriate action to follow based on the findings.
The police announcement came days after SaharaReporters brought the incident to public attention in a report published on October 27, titled, “VIDEO: ‘I’ll Teach You A Lesson’: Nigerian Policeman Threatens Motorist, Orders Him To Remove Necklace, Glasses During Search.”
The footage, originally shared on X by a user identified as , captured a tense encounter between a motorist and officers conducting a search of his vehicle.
One of the Mobile Police officers involved was seen wearing a name tag bearing the name Afambu Uche.
However, what began as an attempt by the driver to observe the search gradually developed into a heated confrontation.
How the confrontation started
The motorist wanted the officers to search his vehicle in an organised manner, allowing him to monitor what was happening.
He politely asked them to concentrate on one section at a time and close the vehicle door so he could clearly see the officer carrying out the inspection.
Rather than proceeding with the search, one of the officers turned his attention to the necklace around the driver's neck.
He questioned the motorist about the jewellery and suggested that it could be a charm.
The driver explained that it was simply his necklace, but the officer insisted that he remove it.
When the motorist questioned why he had to take it off, the officer became more confrontational and ordered him to comply.
The exchange soon became more aggressive, with the officer warning that he would teach the driver a lesson he would never forget.
He also accused the motorist of making unnecessary noise, demanded that he open his bag and threatened to take him to face criminal charges.
But the necklace was not the only thing the officer wanted removed.
Officer orders driver to remove his glasses
As the argument continued, the officer turned his attention to the glasses on the motorist's face.
He repeatedly ordered him to take them off and warned him not to put them back on until the search was completed.
The driver, however, remained concerned about how the officers were handling the situation.
He insisted on keeping his mobile phone out rather than putting it inside his pocket, apparently wanting to document the encounter.
That decision further escalated the disagreement.
The situation eventually turned physical, with the officer seen engaging the motorist in a scuffle and assaulting him.
During the confrontation, the driver could be heard protesting and questioning why he was being attacked.
He maintained that he would not put his phone away, and the recording ended amid the heated exchange.
Police move against officers after public outrage
Following the circulation of the footage and public reactions, the Police Complaint Response Unit confirmed that the officers had been identified and summoned.
The investigation is expected to establish what happened during the vehicle search and determine whether the personnel violated police regulations or the motorist's fundamental rights.
The development has also revived broader concerns about the conduct of police officers during stop-and-search operations.
For years, Nigerians have complained about intimidation, harassment, unlawful arrests and physical abuse by security personnel.
In October 2020, these grievances contributed to the nationwide protests, during which thousands of Nigerians demanded an end to police brutality and called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Protesters accused SARS operatives of involvement in extrajudicial killings, torture, extortion and other human rights violations.
Although the unit was eventually dissolved, complaints involving police misconduct have continued to emerge.
Previous incidents involving police brutality
One of the cases that generated widespread outrage occurred in October 2024, when popular Ogene musician Okezie Chikezie Mba, better known as Igbo Jah, was fatally shot by a police officer attached to the Anti-Cult Tactical Squad in Enugu State.
The officer, Inspector Ozonwanji Joseph, was subsequently arrested over the incident.
Another disturbing case occurred in April 2023, when a police officer identified as Justus Bawa was captured on video slapping and brutalising a motorist during an argument along a highway in Rivers State.
Following public condemnation and a report by SaharaReporters, the police announced that Bawa would face an orderly room trial. His dismissal from the force was also announced.
These incidents have continued to fuel questions about accountability within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly concerning officers assigned to tactical and enforcement duties.
For the latest Rivers incident, the police have now confirmed that the officers involved will face an investigation.
The crucial issue is whether the process will result in meaningful disciplinary action if misconduct is established, rather than another assurance that eventually fades from public attention.
For the motorist captured in the viral footage, the search that began as a routine police operation ended in a confrontation that has now placed the conduct of the officers under official scrutiny.
