Nigerian actor, Young C. Entertainment, has alleged that he and two of his crew members were abducted and unlawfully detained by police officers in Imo State.
The incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon in Owerri, took place while the actor and his crew were in the area for a film shoot, having traveled from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a video circulating online, Young C. Entertainment shared that the ordeal began when one of his crew members lost their mobile phone, prompting them to visit an MTN office to retrieve a new SIM card. On their way, they were stopped by officers from the Anti-Narcotics and Drugs Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department.
The actor explained that the officers insisted on searching them and their vehicle. Upon finding two bundles of “prop money” used for their film, the officers accused them of carrying counterfeit currency. Young C. clarified that the money, clearly marked for movie production purposes, was not real and was printed by a registered producer specifically for the shoot.
In a 13-minute video, the actor detailed how the officers demanded a bribe, threatening to take them to the station and extort 1.5 million Naira. Despite their protests of innocence, the group was taken to the station, forced to sit on the floor for two hours, and then locked in a cell.
Young C. further alleged that the officers left the station, leaving them without food or water until the following day. The group’s phones were confiscated, and they were not allowed to contact their relatives or legal representatives. He also recounted how one crew member, who suffers from asthma, nearly died in the cell around midnight. A policeman reportedly told the actor, “If he dies, we know what to do with him.”
Young C. named several of the officers involved and claimed they were only released after his lawyer arrived at the station, along with calls from influential individuals. The officers allegedly demanded N300,000 for their release but eventually accepted N15,000, which was used to purchase an inhaler for the asthmatic crew member.
The actor has vowed to take legal action against the officers responsible for the incident.
In response, Imo State Police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, revealed that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has ordered an investigation into the matter. Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, assured that any officer found guilty would face disciplinary action. He also urged the victims to report the incident to the IGP X-Squad in Owerri to aid in the investigation.
“The Imo State Police Command remains committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens,” Okoye said, promising that justice would be served if any wrongdoing was uncovered.