Nigerian Man Alleges Brutal Assault by Policemen in Rivers State Over Expired Tinted Permit and ₦1 Million Bribe Demand (video)

Kletus Emmanuel Onyekachi

A Nigerian man, Kletus Emmanuel Onyekachi, has accused a team of armed policemen in Rivers State of brutally assaulting him, his younger brother, a friend, and a female passenger after he refused to pay a ₦1 million bribe allegedly demanded over an expired tinted permit.

Emmanuel said the incident occurred on Igbo-Etche Road near Ibu-Ichie roundabout while he was returning from a car wash. According to him, the officers initially demanded his vehicle papers before accusing him of having an expired tinted permit. When he explained that the renewal portal was congested, the policemen allegedly demanded ₦1 million, threatening to take him to the station if he failed to pay.

“One of them told me to ‘bring one meter’ (₦1 million) for the tinted permit. I thought it was a joke until he made it clear he was serious. I even offered ₦20,000 so they could let us go, but they rejected it,” Emmanuel said.

He alleged that when he attempted to call a friend for financial help, the policemen accused him of trying to use “contacts” against them, seized his phone, and beat him. Emmanuel said one officer slapped him repeatedly before stamping on his head and calling him a criminal.

A viral video of the incident shows Emmanuel bleeding heavily, pleading with officers not to shoot him as they continued beating him and stepping on his body. He alleged that another officer emerged from the bush with a stick, struck him on the head until he lost consciousness, and also attacked his brother, his friend, and a female passenger.

The assault victim at the scene

“They tore her clothes because they thought she was recording them. They beat her, dragged her on the floor, and pushed her into a gutter,” he recounted. Emmanuel said the officers later zoomed off with his brother, leaving him for dead until an elderly man intervened and helped him to a hospital.

The Rivers State Police Command has since confirmed the arrest of the officers involved, stating they are currently in detention and will face disciplinary action. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a full-scale investigation, assigning the CP Monitoring Team to handle the case.