Viral Boot Arrest Sparks Outrage as Imo CP Takes Swift Action, Four Officers Detained

OWERRI – The Imo State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation after a viral video showing a young man being forced into the boot of a vehicle along Human Race Road, Nekede, triggered widespread public outrage.

The disturbing incident, which reportedly occurred on Sunday, August 2, 2026, prompted the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, to order the immediate identification of the officers involved and a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Preliminary findings revealed that the four personnel seen in the video comprised two police officers attached to the Nekede Divisional Headquarters and two Supernumerary Police Officers. They were reportedly carrying out an operation at a location suspected to be linked to drug trafficking, during which two suspects were arrested.

According to the Command, substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa were recovered from one of the suspects, who allegedly confessed to selling illicit drugs in the area.

However, despite the reported success of the operation, the Police Command strongly condemned the conduct of the officers, describing the act of forcing a suspect into the boot of a vehicle as unacceptable, inhumane, and a clear violation of the Nigeria Police Force’s Standard Operating Procedures, Code of Conduct, and professional ethics.

In response, CP Bosso ordered the immediate detention of the four officers and directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough and impartial investigation.

The Command also confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have commenced against the officers, assuring the public that the outcome of the investigation will be made public upon its conclusion.

Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to professionalism, the Commissioner of Police assured residents that while the fight against crime remains a top priority, all police operations must be carried out lawfully and with full respect for the rights and dignity of every citizen.