The Nigeria Police Force have commenced a probe after a viral video raised alarms about alleged illegal arrests and extortion by unidentified officers, particularly in Owerri, Imo State, ahead of the festive season.

The response came after a content creator, Young Entertainment, in a viral video on Saturday, alleged that some officers in unmarked vehicles had been stopping members of the public, arresting them without proper identification and extorting money from them.

In the video posted on X, he claimed that the alleged officers often operated in vehicles without number plates and wore uniforms without name tags or other forms of identification, making it difficult for victims to identify them.

He also said some of the reported incidents occurred around Bank Road and the area near the State CID in Owerri, where residents have reportedly been subjected to constant harassment.

Young Entertainment urged the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Audu Boso, to establish patrol teams, particularly from the police X-Squad, to monitor officers and vehicles operating in the areas identified in the complaints.

He said more than 50 complaints had been brought to his attention and warned that the alleged incidents could increase during the festive season when more people would be travelling and moving around the state.

Reacting to the video on Sunday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, acknowledged the allegations and asked the Police Complaints Response Unit to contact the complainant for further details, saying, “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. @PoliceNG_CRU, please urgently contact the complainant for more details to facilitate prompt intervention.

The NPF is committed to serving the public and upholding the rule of law.”

Replying to the FPRO on X, PoliceNG_CRU acknowledged the instruction and pledged action, as the Force assured residents that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and anyone found culpable would face appropriate sanctions.