Incident captured in viral video sparks outrage as Anambra Police Command remains silent on the matter
A landlord-tenant disagreement in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, turned fatal this week after a baby allegedly died when a police officer’s blow meant for an adult missed and struck the child.
The incident, which has drawn widespread outrage online, occurred after a landlord invited police officers to the tenant’s residence to resolve an ongoing dispute. According to eyewitness accounts shared by media personality Uche Nworah, the tenant was not at home when the officers arrived. Instead, they met a relative holding an infant.
The situation escalated quickly. Witnesses say an officer attempted to slap the relative but missed, hitting the baby instead. The child fell and died shortly afterward.
A distressing video now circulating shows the lifeless infant lying on a decorated mat. In the footage, a narrator speaking in Igbo describes what happened and pleads for the video to be shared widely. Translated, the voice says the landlord brought police to arrest the absent tenant, the officers tried to assault a relative holding the baby, and after the child died, the officers and landlord fled the scene. “Please share this video so the world can see the evil that has been committed here,” the narrator urges.
The footage has fueled intense condemnation across social media, with civil society groups and residents calling for an independent investigation. Many have questioned why armed police were involved in what appears to be a civil matter, and why the situation escalated to physical violence.
No civil dispute should escalate to violence, let alone the death of a child. The incident has renewed calls for stricter standards on police conduct and accountability in civilian matters.
As of the time of compiling this report, no official statement had been released by the Anambra State Police Command regarding the incident, the identities of the officers allegedly involved, or the whereabouts of the landlord. The account remains based on a voice note and video circulating online and has not been independently confirmed by authorities. Community leaders are urging calm while demanding a transparent investigation to ensure those responsible are held to account.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
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