Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered an investigation into an alleged incident of brutality involving operatives of the State Special Anti-Touting Squad, following the circulation of a viral video on social media.
The video, which emerged over the weekend, appears to show personnel of the squad subjecting a group of suspected touts to harsh treatment at an undisclosed location in the state.
Responding to the development, the state government, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, stated that Governor Soludo has directed a thorough and transparent probe into the incident. “The Anambra State Government has taken note of a viral video purportedly showing men of the Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad drilling a group of alleged touts,” the statement read.
“While the administration remains resolute in its efforts to stamp out touting and restore order across the state, Governor Soludo has called for a full investigation to determine the authenticity and context of the video.”
Dr Mefor cautioned the public against the uncritical dissemination of unverified media content, particularly in an age where artificial intelligence and digital manipulation have made misinformation more pervasive. “In this era of AI and sophisticated disinformation, we urge members of the public to always verify media content before circulating or treating it as fact,” he said.
He further emphasised the Soludo administration’s commitment to the protection of human rights, noting that the government will not tolerate any abuse of power by security operatives or task force personnel. “The Soludo administration is committed to upholding the rights and dignity of every lawful citizen and resident of Anambra State. No individual or group will be allowed to violate those rights or inflict undue harm on citizens under any guise,” the statement concluded.
The government assured residents of its continued resolve to enforce law and order across the state with fairness, justice, and respect for human dignity.