A viral video has stirred reactions in Rivers State after a police officer and two others were caught and flogged by community youths in Nkpolu, Obio-Akpor Local Council, for alleged drug abuse.

The clip shows the trio being beaten while community members chant, “Officer, Say No to Drug Abuse.”

Community sources identified the officer as Joshua Nyian of Woji Police Division. Eyewitnesses said youths enforcing a community campaign against drugs apprehended the three during a sweep.

Nkpolu Youth President, Owhonda Chamberlain, said the neighbourhood has been waging a crackdown tagged “Operation No Drugs.” “We have discovered that some of our children do not have homes anymore. The property their parents struggled to build and left for them, they are selling it to take drugs,” he said.

The police, however, disputed the drug claim and alleged a personal motive behind the attack.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state’s Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said: “What happened is that the police man…the community alleged he was a drug addict. It was false. The officer in question is in love with a daughter of that community, and he has already performed some traditional rites; they have conducted an introduction. The youth president is also interested in this girl. The girl is pregnant with the officer’s child.

“So with all these allegations in preliminary investigation, it is obvious that the youth president connived with others to parade this police officer as a drug addict. The matter is still under investigation and we are asking the youth president to come forward with all his evidence to prove these.”

Also, in a press statement, the command said that on August 24, 2025, at about 1:40 p.m., an officer identified as Inspector Joshua Nyian, attached to Woji Division, reported that around 10:20 a.m., he stopped in Nkpolu to see his pregnant partner when he was allegedly accosted by the Nkpolu youth president, the community chairman and about 20 youths. They reportedly beat him, dragged him to the road, seized his police ID card and phone, filmed him, and forcefully collected N78,000. The officer alleged the youth president had been making advances to his partner.

The command said the officer’s statement was recorded and a medical form issued, adding that efforts were ongoing for the youth president and others to present evidence. It urged community leaders to caution youths against taking the law into their hands and assured the public that justice would be served.