A Nigerian man has raised an alarm on social media over a shocking encounter with officers of the Nigerian Police Force in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
In a distressing post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), the man recounted being assaulted, illegally detained, and extorted by police officers while he was simply stepping out to buy food.
The post, which has since gone viral, was accompanied by a video showing injuries on his face. He described the incident as traumatizing and called on the public and authorities to intervene.
According to the victim, he was stopped by officers who insisted he must enter their vehicle. When he hesitated and asked for a reason, one officer allegedly slapped him across the face.
“They said I should go into the car with them. I said, ‘Why should I go into the car with you people?’ One from inside the car slapped me. I entered the car, they handcuffed me and started questioning me — asking where I was from, what I did for a living,” he narrated.
He continued, “They were hitting me so hard. I’m making this video to raise awareness. This police harassment has not ended. They’re still stopping young boys, harassing and extorting money from them.”
He went on to explain that the police officers diverted from the main road and took him to a secluded bushy area, where they forced him to unlock his phone and open his bank account.
“They took me into the bush, beat me up, and demanded I open my phone. They didn’t find anything incriminating. Then they asked for money. I transferred the ₦30,000 in my account to them. After that, they returned my phone and ATM card and told me to leave,” he said.
The visibly distressed man concluded his video with a heartfelt appeal to the public and the authorities. “This is becoming too much in Owerri, Imo State. There’s no free movement anymore. This happened to me this morning, just because I went out to get something to eat. These police people need to be stopped.”
The video has generated widespread reactions across social media platforms, sparking outrage among Nigerians who have long decried the persistent problem of police brutality and extortion, particularly targeting young men.
WATCH VIDEO:
Man narrates how police officers in Owerri, Imo State, åssåultéd him, took him into the bush, and emptied all the money in his account💔😢 pic.twitter.com/akfYLblTBY
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) July 17, 2025