By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Newton Isokpehi |
AWKA, NIGERIA – The Nigeria Police Force has swiftly arrested an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Newton Isokpehi, attached to the Anambra State Command, after a viral TikTok video captured him threatening to shoot and kill any citizen who records him while he is performing his official duties. Following widespread public outrage, the police high command ordered immediate internal disciplinary action and a comprehensive drug test for the embattled officer.
In the highly provocative video that circulated across social media platforms including X and Instagram, ASP Isokpehi was seen holding his rifle while issuing a violent, direct warning to members of the public.
“Any day I am on duty as a police officer, carrying my rifle and doing my job, let somebody come and video me," Isokpehi declared in the footage. "That oga who gave you people the order to video us, he will go and do your burial. He will bury you. The number of you that I kill, he will be the one to bury all of you.”
Reacting to the development, Force Spokesperson Anthony Placid confirmed the arrest, stating that the officer had been urgently summoned to the Command Headquarters to face orderly room trial proceedings. The police reiterated that citizens have a fundamental, legal right to film officers on duty, provided it does not actively disrupt operations.
“The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the conduct and utterances exhibited in the video are unacceptable, unprofessional, and inconsistent with the ethics, standards, and code of conduct of the Nigeria Police Force," Placid stated. "Such actions run contrary to the ongoing reform initiatives of the Force aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, professionalism, and citizen-focused policing.”
The high command emphasized that Isokpehi’s violent outbursts directly violate explicit directives issued by Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu. The IGP has repeatedly maintained that members of the public are permitted to lawfully record officers to ensure institutional accountability, so long as it doesn't compromise tactical safety or interfere with active law enforcement activities.
Following the immense backlash online, the officer immediately deleted the footage from his TikTok account and released a second video recanting his statements and issuing an apology, claiming that the initial violent remarks were made out of extreme frustration.
The Anambra State Police Command, under the directive of Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu, stated that it will maintain zero tolerance for intimidation or abuse of office, reassuring the public that the outcome of the ongoing disciplinary trial will be made transparent.