A disturbing incident involving alleged police brutality has sparked public outrage in Nigeria after a video surfaced on social media showing officers physically assaulting a man and his girlfriend for reportedly refusing to allow their phones to be searched.
The video, which gained traction after being posted on X (formerly Twitter), shows a tense encounter between the couple and a group of uniformed police officers. According to eyewitnesses and the video footage, the confrontation escalated when the man declined to hand over his phone to the officers.
In the recording, bystanders can be heard confronting the police as tensions rise. One individual appears to restrain the male victim, preventing him from engaging physically, while the woman believed to be his girlfriend can be heard protesting in the background. Amid the heated exchange, one of the officers allegedly slapped the woman, triggering widespread condemnation from viewers online.
The clip has since gone viral, with many Nigerians taking to the platform to express anger over what they perceive as ongoing abuse of power by some members of the police force, particularly in relation to unlawful stop-and-search tactics.
Public Reactions on Social Media
Here are some of the reactions from users on X:
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@endyy090 wrote: “Even if you find him with weed, as long as it's a small, personal amount, it's not a crime. Why don’t they go after celebrities who openly smoke? It’s because those ones know their rights.”
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@AustinINstate commented: “Until a police officer gets hit by a car, the rest won’t leave the roads.”
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@HottCeo added: “The more you call them SARS, the more uninformed you sound. SARS has been disbanded. Identify them properly. Not every officer acting out is SARS.”
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@3JDimention said: “When faced with Nigerian police, you have two options—activate street-smart survival mode or submit completely. Choose wisely.”
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@iykeinfos questioned: “Do SARS still operate in Nigeria? From what I know, anything resembling SARS has been disbanded. If they still exist, that’s criminality in uniform.”
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In another post, @iykeinfos added: “The day Nigerians are legally allowed to bear arms is the day police will remain in their stations unless there's a verified distress call. This country is a joke.”
Call for Accountability
The incident has reignited debates about police reform and the lingering impact of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), whose dissolution was prompted by widespread #EndSARS protests in 2020. Despite official pronouncements disbanding the unit, citizens continue to report similar tactics and abuses by other specialized units.
Human rights advocates are urging the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the incident thoroughly and hold the officers accountable if found guilty. Many Nigerians believe that without systemic reform and strict enforcement of human rights standards, such cases will continue to erode public trust in law enforcement.
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