A disturbing video showing police officers in Akwa Ibom State forcefully handling a pregnant woman over a third-party vehicle insurance issue has sparked widespread outrage, News360 Nigeria reports.
The officers, suspected to be from the Itam Police Division, were captured in the viral footage dragging the woman, who allegedly lacked valid insurance, until she collapsed. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the public, with many condemning the officers’ excessive use of force.
A Facebook user, Mayor Sylvester, expressed his frustration over the incident, slamming the officers for their actions.
“This is what the Itam Police Station in Akwa Ibom State has turned the third-party insurance issue into. They are now acting like animals. These are the kind of irresponsible characters recruited into the force. Imagine how a pregnant woman is being rough-handled. I just hope her baby is still alive,” he wrote.
He further suggested a more humane approach to enforcing insurance policies. “If the police want to ensure every vehicle has third-party insurance, why not assign representatives from insurance companies to police checkpoints? That way, defaulters can easily renew their insurance on the spot instead of facing such brutality.”
Police Yet to Respond
Despite the video circulating online for over 16 hours, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement. Efforts to reach Commissioner of Police Bala Mohammed Azare and the Command’s spokesperson, Tifon John, have so far been unsuccessful.
The incident drew a crowd of onlookers, many of whom voiced their disapproval of the officers’ actions. The footage has further fueled concerns about police brutality in Nigeria, with calls for accountability and reform growing louder.
