Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has launched an urgent investigation to identify a yet-to-be-named officer caught on camera drinking from a bottle of Hennessy cognac while conducting a stop-and-search operation, a viral video that has sparked widespread public outrage and raised fresh questions about discipline and professionalism within the country’s law enforcement. The footage, which began circulating widely on social media on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, shows the armed officer interacting with occupants of a parked vehicle while repeatedly taking swigs from the bottle during the roadside check. He is also heard calling out figures as one of the occupants operates a mobile phone, leading to allegations that he may have been soliciting financial gratification.
The incident has ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media, with many Nigerians expressing disgust and demanding disciplinary action. The video has been shared thousands of times across platforms, with users questioning how an officer could be allowed to consume alcohol while on active duty and in full view of the public. “This is the man who is supposed to protect us,” one user commented. “Drunk and demanding money while we are at his mercy. This is the Nigeria Police we have to deal with every day”. Others faulted the driver who appeared to offer the drink while also recording the officer, arguing that the act of filming and sharing the video without reporting the officer was itself problematic.
Reacting to the development, the Force’s New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, confirmed that the police leadership was aware of the viral video and had commenced efforts to identify the officer and determine the location and circumstances of the incident. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Giwa said: “The force leadership is aware of a viral video that appears to show a police officer allegedly soliciting financial gratification and drinking from a bottle believed to contain alcohol while interacting with vehicle occupants”. He added: “We are working to identify the officer, determine the location, and clarify the circumstances of the incident. The Force assures the public that appropriate action will follow the outcome of the inquiry”.
The Nigeria Police Act 2021 explicitly prohibits officers from consuming alcohol or psychotropic substances while on duty. Section 100(1) of the Act makes it unlawful for a police officer to take alcohol while performing official functions. The officer’s conduct, if confirmed, would constitute a serious breach of the Police Act and the Force’s internal regulations, which mandate sobriety and professionalism in all public engagements.
The viral video has also reignited broader public frustration over the conduct of police officers in Nigeria, particularly the culture of extortion and abuse of power that has long plagued the force. Stop-and-search operations, in particular, have become synonymous with harassment and illegal demands for money, with many Nigerians viewing them as opportunities for officers to extract bribes rather than legitimate crime prevention measures. The latest incident has only reinforced these perceptions, with critics arguing that the officer’s behaviour reflects a systemic failure of discipline and accountability. The incident also comes amid ongoing calls for police reform following the #EndSARS protests, which have yet to yield meaningful change in the culture of impunity within the force.
As the investigation continues, the police have urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the inquiry to run its course. The Force has assured Nigerians that appropriate action will be taken once the officer is identified and the facts are established. However, for many, the video is yet another damning indictment of a police force that has struggled to shed its reputation for indiscipline, corruption, and brutality. The coming days will reveal whether the police leadership is serious about enforcing its own rules and restoring public trust, or whether the officer will escape with a slap on the wrist, as has so often been the case in the past. For now, the search is on for the officer who traded his badge for a bottle of Hennessy.
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