In a widely circulated video, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, operating under the Kwara State Command, can be seen physically assaulting a young man while accusing him of involvement in fraudulent activities, often referred to as being a “Yahoo boy.”
The incident unfolded on a Tuesday at the Post Office in the Ilorin area of Kwara State. Witnesses reported that the unidentified young man, accompanied by his girlfriend, was walking along the street when they encountered a police checkpoint. The officers in the viral video immediately apprehended him, labeling him a fraudster.
In the video, which has gained significant attention, the officers, wearing jeans trousers and jackets with the inscription “Police ASC KWS,” forcefully escorted the young man into their Hilux van. Shockingly, one of the officers is seen in the video striking the young man with his AK-47 rifle.
The anguished voice of the man’s girlfriend can be heard in the background, crying out and asking, “What did he do? What is his offense?”
Umar Afeez Olaide, who posted the video on social media, expressed his concern, stating, “As seen today in Ilorin at the post office, this guy was passing by with his girlfriend and was tagged as a yahoo boy without evidence. #NigeriaPolice lacks proper training.”
Nigerians on social media have reacted strongly, asserting that the issue of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) harassment has not been fully addressed in Kwara State.
One social media user, @Boltzmann_ibile, described the widespread extortion of youths by the police, particularly in Ilorin, where students are often harassed and intimidated. He emphasized that SARS-related issues persist in the region.
Meanwhile, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has strongly criticized the actions of the officers, labeling them as unprofessional. He assured the public that the Force Headquarters had directed the Kwara State Command to identify and apprehend the involved officers, bringing them to Abuja for further investigation.
Adejobi stated, “I have instructed the Kwara Command to identify and bring them to Abuja. In cases like this, especially when officers display recalcitrance, we take direct action. I have identified at least two offenses in this video, and the officers must be held accountable for their actions.”