A viral video capturing a tense altercation between operatives of the Cross River State Police Command‘s Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, and the Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Hon. James Anam, has sparked outrage across Cross River State and renewed scrutiny over police conduct.

The video, believed to have been recorded from inside a police operational vehicle by one of the operatives, shows armed police personnel berating and threatening the elected council chairman at an undisclosed stop-and-search point within the Calabar metropolis.

In the footage, officers are heard taunting the chairman over parking, dismissing his authority and issuing explicit threats.

One of the officers is clearly heard saying: “Armed robbers go visit you. You’re a foolish man… You think say I dey fear you? I no dey fear you… For Anti Kidnapping ehnn, I don pay my dues for this Cross River State.”

The video has since gone viral on social media, drawing condemnation from residents, civil society groups and political stakeholders who described the threat as reckless, unprofessional and dangerous coming from personnel attached to an anti-kidnapping unit.

Reacting to the incident, the Cross River State Police Command in a press statement issued on Friday, Police, and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, acknowledged the video and announced an investigation.

The Command said preliminary information indicates that the incident occurred approximately three weeks ago during a stop-and-search operation, but stressed that the full circumstances have not been established.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police,CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has ordered a discreet and impartial investigation to establish the facts and the conduct of all persons involved.

“In furtherance of the investigation, the Command has commenced the process of inviting Apostle. Jameso Anam, Chairman, Calabar Municipality Local Government Council, as well as the concerned VCRU operatives, to provide their respective accounts of the incident,” the statement read.

The Command assured that the investigation will be conducted professionally and objectively, with due regard to the rights of all parties, adding that any misconduct established will be dealt with in accordance with extant laws and police regulations.

It urged members of the public to refrain from drawing conclusions from the circulating video, which it said may not contain the full circumstances.

The incident has however raised fresh questions about discipline and professionalism within tactical units of the Nigeria Police, particularly at a time when the Cross River State Police Command under CP Ajo Ordue has been pushing inter-agency cooperation and community confidence.

Stakeholders say threatening an elected Local Government Chairman — the Chief Security Officer of his LGA — with an armed robbery visit undermines public trust and portrays the anti-crime unit in bad light.

Public commentators have linked the conduct captured in the video to repeated allegations by social critics, including activist Martins Vincent Otse, VeryDarkMan, who have accused some security operatives of enabling insecurity through unprofessional conduct.

As at press time, Hon. James Anam is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The Police Command said further developments will be communicated to the public as appropriate.