By Adesakin Adefemi
The Abia State Police Command has arrested two men accused of impersonating operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency after a viral video captured them assaulting and handcuffing a commercial tricycle rider in Umuahia. The arrests have sparked renewed warnings against unauthorized enforcement by private groups.
The suspects were identified as Anthony Kelechi, 41, and Bright Abraham, 42. Detectives attached to the Central Police Station, Umuahia, picked them up following investigations triggered by the video that circulated widely on social media platforms on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed the arrests in an official statement. She said the footage showed two men, one dressed in attire resembling a community security operative and the other in plain clothes, physically assaulting and handcuffing a keke driver in broad daylight.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo are members of Social Watch Anti-Drugs Abuse Advocacy, an organisation registered to promote awareness against drug abuse. However, police allege the group was being used as cover to impersonate NDLEA personnel and carry out illegal operations within the Umuahia metropolis.
According to DSP Chinaka, the suspects allegedly engaged in unlawful arrests and extorted money from members of the public under the pretext of enforcing drug laws. The police said the viral video was the key evidence that led operatives to their location and eventual arrest.
“The suspects were arrested following a viral video on social media depicting two individuals assaulting and handcuffing an autorickshaw rider,” the statement read. Police said discreet investigation is ongoing to ensure diligent prosecution of the suspects and to serve as deterrence to others.
Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, used the incident to caution citizens against taking the law into their own hands. He noted that while Section 20 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act allows private citizens to make arrests, such suspects must be immediately handed over to the police.
“The use of force, assault, intimidation, or impersonation of law enforcement agencies in order to extort remains unlawful, criminal and will not be tolerated,” CP Isa warned. He stressed that only recognized security agencies have the mandate to enforce laws.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or emergency lines. The case highlights growing concerns over impersonation of security personnel by criminal elements seeking to extort unsuspecting members of the public.
