The Nigeria Police Force has identified and summoned three officers for allegedly harassing and assaulting a motorist during a stop-and-search operation in Rivers State.

The NPF Complaint Response Unit in a post on X on Saturday said an in-depth investigation was ongoing for necessary action.

It read, “UPDATE: The officers captured in the viral video from Rivers State @PoliceNG Command were identified and subsequently summoned to the @PoliceNG_CRU , for an in-depth investigation and necessary actions. Under the leadership of the IGP @TunjiDisu1, we say #NoToImpunity.”

A viral video on Tuesday showed two occupants of a vehicle stopped by officers on stop-and-search. 

One of the occupants requested the officers to focus on one area at a time to prevent any underhand conduct by other officers searching other parts of the vehicle without being monitored by them.

“Please sir, can you close the door, let’s focus on one side. Let him close the door so we can focus here, so that I can see what he is doing,” the occupant said.

However, one of the operatives, a mobile police (MOPOL) officer with a name tag “Afambu Uche,” turned to intimidate him by quering him what he wore on his neck, claiming it was a charm.

The officer asked, “What is this one on your neck?,” to which the victim replied that it was his necklace. The officer then commanded him to, “Bring it out! What is necklace? Is it not talisman?”. The victim ignored the order.

The officer then threatened, “I will teach you a lesson you have not learned in your life. Open your bag. We are moving you to criminal charge. You are making noise. Who are you?” 

The officer shifted focus to his glasses and ordered him to put his phone and glasses in his pockets.

He added, “Remove the glass in your face. I say remove the glass in your face! Don’t put the glass on until I finish searching. When we finish with you, you will learn what you have not learned. I said put that phone in your pocket and put that glass in your pocket.”

But the motorist replied, “I won’t put my phone in my pocket. Why are you assaulting me? I won’t put my phone in my pocket,” as the video went ended.