The Anambra State Government has promised to punish the officers of the Special Anambra Anti-Touting Squad who attacked a man called Wilfred Ezike, also known as Mgbilimgba, in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Tuesday.
A group of people who are part of SASA reportedly beat him until he lost consciousness for an unknown reason.
The officials recorded themselves hitting the man's legs and ankles with a pestle and shared the video on social media.
The video, which circulated on social media on Tuesday, shows the men hitting the man with a short pestle while questioning him about an unidentified matter.
One of the officers repeatedly hit the man with the pestle while his colleagues filmed, as the man lay on the ground, crying and asking them to let him explain.
In the video, the man tried to explain that his wife was pregnant and that he didn’t want to die without seeing his child, but the anti-tout officers told him that they wanted him dead and that they were not there to joke with him.
The video sparked widespread condemnation in the state, and the public questioned why the Anti-tout officers would subject someone to such inhumane treatment instead of handing him over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chikodi Anarah, said, “We are investigating the matter and will punish the erring SASA officers.”
The statement read, “I have seen a viral video of the arrest and mistreatment of Wilfred Ezike, also known as Mgbiligba, by SASA officers. I am deeply saddened that such an incident occurred. I have been upset all day since someone sent me the video.
“Some individuals are committed to various criminal activities, which leave innocent citizens in miserable conditions while they go about their normal lives, but we must handle individuals according to the law, regardless of their actions.
“Our government abides by the law, which is why we will identify the SASA officers involved in the incident and punish them accordingly.
“We are determined to eliminate ‘Agberos,’ but we must do so within the boundaries of the law. It is interesting to see people commenting and reacting. This demonstrates life in a structured democracy.
“Some claim that Wilfred Ezike committed various heinous acts for which he deserved harsh treatment and punishment, while others insist that he should not have been mistreated at all. For me, and the Anambra State government, nothing justifies brutality, and that is why we will punish the officers who acted inappropriately.
“According to reports on various platforms, Wilfred Ezike has been in and out of prison for allegedly murdering innocent people while extorting money from them with his associates. He is said to be a major leader of touts who have caused great suffering for people.
“We were told that there was widespread happiness among Onitsha traders and ‘keke’ operators when they learned about his arrest. They claimed that he was feared, but if that's true, it doesn't mean that SASA shouldn't obey the law when dealing with him.
“Others say SASA officers might have been very angry because they believe he falsely accused them of killing someone on Niger Street, Onitsha.
“SASA also said he did this to start his plan to disrupt their work and continue his illegal activities. A police investigation reportedly supports SASA’s claim that the accusation was groundless.
“General opinions have also been expressed that Wilfred had played a major role in resisting previous administrations' efforts to stop the State of touts and their activities.
The PUNCH had reported that the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, established the state Anti-touts Squad in 2023 to address the increasing problem of touting in the state.
