OWERRI — The Imo State Police Command has ordered the immediate arrest and detention of four security personnel captured in a viral social media video forcing a suspect into the boot of a vehicle along Human Race Road in Nekede.
The incident, which occurred during an early morning drug enforcement operation on Sunday, August 2, 2026, sparked widespread public outrage, prompting an immediate investigation by the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso.
Preliminary Investigations and Operation Details
An initial review conducted by the command revealed that the four personnel involved—comprising two regular police officers attached to the Nekede Divisional Headquarters and two Supernumerary (SPY) police officers—were executing a anti-narcotics raid targeting a suspected drug trafficking point along Human Race Road:
- Suspect Arrests & Seizures: Operatives apprehended two suspects during the operation, recovering substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa from an individual who allegedly confessed to selling illicit drugs within the locality.
- Unprofessional Conduct Condemned: Despite the recovery of illicit items, the command condemned the manner of arrest, describing the act of forcing a suspect into a car boot as inhumane, unacceptable, and a clear violation of standard police operating procedures.
Disciplinary Measures and SCID Transfer
In a statement issued on Monday, August 3, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, the command confirmed that administrative and legal sanctions are underway:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Human Race Road, Nekede, Imo State
PERSONNEL INVOLVED: 2 Regular Police Officers (Nekede Division) & 2 Supernumerary (SPY) Officers
COMMAND ACTION: Immediate arrest, detention, and referral to State CID
INVESTIGATING BODY: State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri
REASON FOR SANCTION: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) breach & inhumane treatment of suspect
CP Audu Garba Bosso has directed the State CID to conduct an impartial investigation into the conduct of the personnel, assuring the public that the final outcome and disciplinary actions will be made public upon conclusion.
