Anambra Police breaks silence on viral video involving court bailiffs
By Chibuzo Obidike | IchieTimes
The Anambra State Police Command has broken its silence on a viral video showing a confrontation between police operatives and court bailiffs during an alleged enforcement of a court order in Awka.
The Command, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the video circulating on social media captured only part of the incident and did not provide the full circumstances leading to the confrontation.
The Police said it had commenced an assessment of the incident to establish what transpired.
According to the Command, preliminary information indicated that police operatives attached to B Division responded to a distress call concerning the presence of unidentified persons and a reported disturbance at a premises within the division’s jurisdiction.
The officers, upon arrival, allegedly met individuals involved in the eviction of persons and removal of properties from the premises.
The Police said the operatives approached those involved to establish their identities and the purpose of the activity and requested appropriate identification.
The interaction reportedly resulted in a disagreement before the persons at the scene identified themselves as court bailiffs carrying out an enforcement exercise pursuant to a court order.
The Command further stated that, based on preliminary information, the police division had not been approached beforehand to provide security support for the enforcement exercise.
The Police said that after being informed that the individuals were court bailiffs acting pursuant to a court order, the operatives advised them on the appropriate procedure for requesting police security support during such exercises and subsequently withdrew from the scene.
The clarification comes after a video of the encounter circulated online, with allegations that police officers had interfered with the execution of a court judgment and harassed court officials.
However, the Police Command urged the public not to draw conclusions from an isolated portion of the video, stressing that the footage did not capture the complete circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command reaffirmed its respect for the authority and independence of the courts and said it remained committed to providing lawful security support for the enforcement of valid court orders where such assistance is duly requested and required.
It also acknowledged concerns generated by the incident, saying relevant parties had been engaged as part of efforts to establish the complete facts.
The Police assured that the matter would be handled professionally and impartially and in accordance with the law.
The Command called for restraint from members of the public pending the outcome of its assessment and said further developments would be communicated when necessary.
The statement was signed by SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, Awka, and dated October 8, 2026.
