The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation into a confrontation between police officers and court bailiffs during the enforcement of a court order.
The incident, involving officers attached to the B Division, was captured in a video that has circulated widely on social media, prompting questions over what led to the confrontation.
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said on Thursday that the command was reviewing the circumstances of the incident, noting that the video circulating online showed only part of what happened.
According to the preliminary account provided by the command, the officers had responded to a distress call concerning unidentified individuals and a reported disturbance at a property within their area of responsibility. On arriving at the location, they reportedly found people removing occupants and property from the premises.
The officers approached those involved and requested identification as well as information about the activity. A disagreement reportedly followed before the individuals identified themselves as court bailiffs carrying out an enforcement exercise based on a court order.
The police said its preliminary findings also indicated that the B Division had not been contacted to provide security for the enforcement exercise before it began. After being informed of the bailiffs’ role, the officers reportedly advised them on the appropriate procedure for requesting police security and subsequently left the scene.
The command said it respects the independence of the judiciary and remains prepared to provide security support for the lawful enforcement of court orders when properly requested.
Meanwhile, the police said it had engaged the relevant parties as part of its efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation. It urged the public not to draw conclusions from an isolated portion of the incident shared online, saying further information would be provided when the assessment is concluded.
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