The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation into a confrontation between its officers and court bailiffs during an eviction exercise in the state.
The incident, involving operatives attached to B Division, was captured in a video which has gone viral on social media.
The command said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation after preliminary findings indicated that its officers were responding to a distress call about unidentified persons and an alleged disturbance at a premises within their jurisdiction.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the video circulating online showed only part of the incident and did not provide the full context of what happened before the confrontation.
According to him, the officers arrived at the premises and found some individuals evicting persons and removing property.
The operatives approached the individuals to establish their identities and the purpose of the exercise, leading to a disagreement before the persons identified themselves as court bailiffs acting on a court order.
Ikenga said preliminary information also indicated that the police division had not been approached for security assistance before the enforcement exercise began.
He said the officers, after being informed that those at the scene were court bailiffs, advised them on the procedure for requesting police security during such exercises before withdrawing.
The command reaffirmed its respect for the judiciary and said it remained ready to provide lawful security support for the enforcement of valid court orders when properly requested.
Ikenga urged the public not to draw conclusions from the viral footage, saying the command had engaged the relevant parties to establish the full facts.
“The Command has nevertheless taken note of the concerns arising from the incident,” he said, adding that further developments would be communicated after the assessment.
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