The Nigeria police Command in Cross River State has dismissed allegations of brutality against operatives of its Operation Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as “Dragon,” following a video circulating on social media that accused the officers of misconduct during an arrest in Calabar.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the Command said the video misrepresented what transpired during a routine patrol carried out on January 15, 2026.
According to the Police, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad were on township patrol at about 12:45 p.m around the Ettagbor axis when they spotted a white Mercedes-Benz vehicle bearing a suspicious and improperly assigned registration number.
The statement said the officers attempted to stop the vehicle to question its occupants and ascertain its ownership, but the driver allegedly refused to comply and drove into a telecommunications gadget complex known as Tonimas, opposite the University of Calabar, with the patrol team in pursuit.
Police said efforts to convey the vehicle and its occupants to the base for proper investigation were resisted, with the suspect allegedly inciting traders, students, and passers-by by claiming that the officers were attempting to arrest and extort him unlawfully.
The Command explained that the situation quickly became tense, prompting the operatives to request reinforcement as some members of the public allegedly turned violent and attacked the officers with stones and sticks.
Operatives from Operation Sting, Anti-Cultism, and the Paramilitary Intervention Unit, also known as Operation Okowor, were subsequently deployed to the scene.
The suspect was subdued and placed in a patrol vehicle but reportedly jumped out and attempted to flee, violently resisting arrest.
“In the course of the struggle, the suspect’s shirt was torn, and he also tore the uniform of one of the Anti-Kidnapping operatives,” the statement added.
The suspect was later re-arrested through the combined efforts of Police and military personnel, while the crowd at the scene was dispersed.
According to the police, the suspect is currently in custody and will be charged to court for assault on police officers, resisting lawful arrest, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
The Command restated its commitment to professionalism, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law, stressing that it does not condone misconduct by its personnel.
It also urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and continue to cooperate with security agencies in the interest of peace and security across the State.
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