The Cross River State Police Command has reacted to the incident involving a mini bus driver, Mr. Imor Sam, saying reports claiming that police officers hit him with the butt of a rifle are false.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the Command said preliminary findings from its investigation do not support the allegation that officers assaulted the driver with a rifle butt.
According to the police, the incident happened on Friday, July 18, 2026, after the driver allegedly refused to stop at a police stop-and-search point.
The Command explained that instead of obeying the officers' directive, the driver allegedly sped off while a Police Special Constabulary (PSC) officer was trying to stop and search the vehicle.
Police said the officer was dragged for some distance before falling into a roadside gutter. The officer was also allegedly punched by the driver, leading to injuries to his mouth and the loss of one tooth.
The Command further stated that investigations so far show the driver was not hit with a rifle butt as widely reported on social media.
According to the statement, the driver himself reportedly confirmed in a recorded video that he was not struck with a rifle butt.
Police said the injury on the driver's forehead happened when he fell and hit the concrete edge surrounding a signpost during the struggle near Atakpa Police Station in Calabar.
Despite the clarification, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State has ordered the immediate detention of the officers involved while a full investigation continues.
The police said the decision is to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation into everything that happened during the incident.
"The Command does not condone any form of unprofessional conduct or misuse of force by its personnel. Any officer found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation will be dealt with in accordance with the law," the statement said.
The Command also appealed to members of the public to avoid spreading unverified reports on social media and allow investigators to establish the complete facts surrounding the incident.
The case has generated widespread public attention after videos of the confrontation between the driver and police officers circulated online, with many social media users accusing officers of using excessive force.
However, with the police now presenting a different account of what happened, attention is expected to shift to the outcome of the ongoing investigation, which will determine whether the officers or the driver bear responsibility for the incident.
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