Several students from the Imo State University (IMSU) were on April 21st physically assaulted and brutalised by police officers.
This was due to their refusal to submit their mobile phones for search.
The incident was captured in a 45-second video.
The police officers can be seen dragging, tearing clothes, and slapping, hitting or cutting the students with a machete.
The police officers arrived on campus in a deep red Toyota Sienna minivan and stormed the compound without any explanation.
The students reside in the said compound said.
A resident who recorded the incident can be heard decrying the conduct of the officers and describing them as doing this for no apparent reason.
A Twitter user that identified as @ebe_tins had shared the video.
He called on the police to desist from assaulting the students who did not commit any crime.
He claimed that they were merely targeted because they refused to give up their phones.
In response to the incident, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, admitted that the police command was aware of it and was conducting an investigation to identify the culprits.
Okoye warned that such misconduct from the police would not be condoned or tolerated.
Okoye further made an open plea to the victims of the incident to contact the police and report the incident.
He further reiterated that justice would be served.
He emphasised that the behaviour displayed by the officers was unacceptable and didn’t meet the standards expected by the community.
The action of the police officers has sparked massive outrage and generated considerable backlash.
Many people have taken to social media to express their revulsion and disgust, with others pointing out the need for a thorough overhaul of the Nigerian police force.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Nigeria where police are overstepping the bounds of their role and power.
The Nigerian police have come under increased scrutiny in recent times, with many advocates claiming that they operate outside the law and are involved in extrajudicial activities.
Some Nigerians have called on the police authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to identify deal with the culprits. And also the reasons behind such a gross violation of the students’ rights.
Many students live on a shoestring budget and may not have the resources to replace damaged phones.
It remains to be seen whether the state police and local authorities can get to the bottom of the problem. And perhaps take remedial action to prevent such acts from happening again.
