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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State has continued to record police brutality which has claimed lives and disfigured some victims, raising concerns among residents of the state.
Currently, a middle-aged man in the state, Arinze Eze, is in excruciating pains, battling to regain vision in one of his eyes that was gouged with a rifle when he had altercation with policemen while returning to his Ngbo court hometown in Ohaukwu local government area of the state.
The incident occurred a few days after security agents attached to the convoy of Governor Francis Nwifuru shattered a car’s windscreens in Abakaliki metropolis for ramming into the convoy.
Eze and the policemen reportedly had the altercation last week in Ishieke, Ebonyi local government area of the state
He was driving his motorcycle when he was stopped by the policemen for their stop – and – search operation on the road.
The policeman, who stopped him, asked him to hand over to them the small bag he was hanging on his neck. He refused, leading to the altercation.
The man insisted the bag will be on his neck while they do all their searching because the contents of the bag included some money and a POS machine. He said he wouldn’t give his bag of money to them just like that.
It was then that one of the policemen started dragging the bag with him which caught the attention of other policemen who were searching other motorcycle operators and motorists.
The policemen immediately descended on Eze without asking their colleague what the problem was. When the beating became too much, he started running for safety.
As he was running, one of the policemen pulled the handle of his rifle and it landed on one of his eyes and gouged it. Pictures of the victim was posted on social media and it elicited wide condemnation.
The state police command immediately swung into action and arrested the policemen involved in the act. The command’s spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, a superintendent of police (SP), said the policemen will be subjected to the appropriate disciplinary procedures in accordance with the outcome of investigation.
“The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command has identified the police officers involved in an altercation with a civilian in Ohaukwu local government area.
“Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, Hope UrunwaOkafor, immediately directed that the officers be transferred to the command headquarters.
“She also ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The officers have since been detained and will be subjected to the appropriate disciplinary procedures in accordance with the outcome of the investigation.
“The command has expressed sympathy to the victim, who is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, and assures the public that the matter will be investigated thoroughly, transparently, and without bias.
“Ebonyi State Police Command remains committed to upholding professionalism, accountability, and respect for the fundamental rights of all citizens.
“It reiterates its zero-tolerance stance on brutality and all forms of misconduct capable of bringing the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute. Any officer found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary action in line with established regulations,” Ukandu said.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the state have condemned the action of the policemen suspected to be acting under the influence of some substances. A lawyer in the state, Lilian Chinonso, decried the attitude of policemen towards members of the public.
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She said: “In most cases, the Nigerian police have been up to a dirty job against the citizens. While we battle banditry and other related social vices, the Nigerian police have been showing their muscles against unarmed people of Nigeria.
“One wonders if their strength is only tested on the innocent citizens of this country. The Nigerian police headquarters, Abakaliki shouldn’t just let this matter sleep. Proper investigation should be carried out and justice delivered for Arinze.
“A citizen’s car windows shattered on the road by security personnel just because they didn’t clear the road fast enough because the governor’s convoy was passing.
“Let’s ask ourselves a simple and honest question, would those officers have died if they simply warned the driver or pulled him over? Since when did a traffic delay become a capital offence that warrants the destruction of a citizen’s private property?
“It is absolutely heartbreaking to see this happening in 2026. We boast about infrastructure, flyovers and becoming a modern city but our mindset towards human rights and the rule of law is still stuck in the dark ages.
“If we continue to justify this kind of tyranny because ‘the governor was passing,’ tomorrow it could be your brother, your sister or you facing that gún butt.
“Power belongs to the people not the sirens. Law enforcement is meant to uphold the law not act like a state-sponsored wrecking crew.”
A human right group in the state, Human Rights Defenders Huride(HURRIDE), has called for comprehensive, unbiased, and transparent investigation into the brutality
In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Sampson Nweke, the group demanded that all those found culpable in the act be held accountable in accordance with the law.
“While HURIDE strongly condemns every form of police brutality and continues to demand justice for Mr. Arinze Eze, we also commend the Ebonyi State Police Command for its swift and proactive response. The prompt arrest and transfer of the officers involved demonstrate a commitment to accountability and due process.
“We have confidence that the Commissioner of Police, Hope Urunwa, will ensure that this investigation is conducted thoroughly, impartially, and transparently. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done.
“HURIDE therefore calls for a comprehensive, unbiased, and transparent investigation and demands that all those found culpable be held accountable in accordance with the law. Justice for Eze Arinze is justice for every law-abiding citizen,” Nweke stated .
Eze is currently in the hospital battling for survival after the incident and has undergone surgery. His case is one of the numerous cases of human right abuses by the police in the state this year
Early this year, policemen from Central Police Station (CPS) in the capital city killed NwanchorUwaezuruike, who was riding a flashy bike called as “rubber-rubber” in local parlance
The deceased, an only son of his family was an ice cream seller and bought the rubber bike model early in the year from the proceeds of the business. He was shot dead for refusing to stop. He had presented the bike to his sister few days before he was shot dead at a filling station close to the popular Spera In-Deo overhead bridge (flyover) in the capital city.
Indeed, in the state, the fear of the police is the beginning of wisdom for riders of flashy bikes and exotic cars. It is almost becoming a crime to drive a flashy car or ride decent bike. Security agencies, especially the police often see the drivers and riders of flashy cars and good bikes as criminal elements while the bikes and cars are usually taken as exhibits when the riders and drivers are arrested with them.
University students, children from well-to-do individuals and some high class persons usually drive or ride these cars and bikes which are of different models because of its Petroleum Motor Spirity (PMS) efficiency, easy movements and prestige it givers the drivers and riders.
But security agencies in the state especially the policemen, have continued to see the riders and drivers as Yahoo Yahoo boys and other criminal elements, especially if the person dresses like Gen. Z.
If the personis wearing tattoo on his body and was unfortunately caught by the police while driving the car or riding bike, the person will regret it because of the harassment, intimidation and extortion he will face in the hands of the extortionist-officers.
When a bike rider stops if flagged down by the police operatives, he must pay between N20,000 and N50,000 before his bike or car will be released to him or it will be impounded and taken to the police station where he will pay higher amount.
At times, the policemen usually demand transfer of money into an account if the “offender” do not have cash. Some of the policemen usually go with PoS machine with which the cash transfer is made after the ATM card of the “offender” or victim is inserted in the machine.
If the driver or rider refused to stop at the check point, the person may be tagged a criminal and shot dead like a young man, NwanchorUwaezuruike who was killed by a team of policemen on duty in the capital city recently.
The situation has had more devastating consequences for young people in the state. Sometime last year, a young man driving a Lexus RX 350 was pursued by police officers and in the course of the chase, he lost control of the vehicle, crashed, and died on the spot.
