A Nigerian man has taken to social media to narrate in detail how he was arrested by police officers for recording them during an operation, detained overnight in a cell, and how, during his brief stay in custody, he encountered a fellow detainee who shared an extraordinary account of how he once cleverly outsmarted a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Uyo.
The story, which was shared by the man known on social media as weotiktok, has since gone viral, sparking conversations online about police conduct and the resilience of Nigerians who continue to experience peculiar situations even in challenging circumstances.
According to his account, the incident began when he brought out his phone and started filming officers while they were making an arrest. Unfortunately for him, one of the policemen noticed his actions, seized his phone immediately, and without much explanation bundled him into their vehicle. He was taken to the station where he spent the night in detention, only regaining his freedom the following day after his brother, with the assistance of a lawyer, secured his release.
Despite describing the situation as ‘nice’ in its own way, he admitted that being arrested and locked up was an experience he would never wish to repeat. However, the period of detention exposed him to several unbelievable stories shared by fellow inmates, one of which stood out strongly to him.
He recounted meeting a man who, alongside a few others, had been accused of stealing a generator. While speaking, the suspect narrated how he once tricked the DPO during an interrogation session. The man explained that the DPO had called him into his office and offered him a deal: if he revealed the location of his alleged accomplices, he would be set free.
However, instead of complying immediately, the suspect told the DPO that he had not eaten for three days and pleaded that he should be allowed to eat first before providing any useful information. The DPO, apparently convinced, ordered for food — white soup and bottled water — and allowed him to eat comfortably at his table. After finishing his meal, the suspect assured the officers that he would now lead them to his colleagues.
Consequently, the DPO assigned officers to accompany him in a police van. The journey took them as far as Ikot Ekpene, which was almost an hour’s drive from Uyo. When they finally arrived, the officers demanded that he point out the exact location of his accomplices. At that point, the man reportedly shocked them by saying he had never mentioned Ikot Ekpene as a destination but rather Ikot Ekpene Road. The officers, left with no choice, turned back and returned to the station empty-handed.
On their return, the DPO, visibly furious at being played, warned him sternly that he would ‘suffer in the cell’ for tricking them. The narrator noted that this was just one of the many unbelievable yet entertaining stories he heard during his overnight stay in detention.
As soon as the man shared his experience online, his video quickly gathered attention with thousands of views and reactions. Many social media users took to the comment section to express a mixture of shock, amusement, and concern — particularly over the police’s decision to arrest him simply for recording them, which many considered a violation of his rights.
See some reactions below:
Twinky: “your human rights was violated and you are smiling 😢😢😭.”
pretty lord 🙏: “for videoing u enter cell abi.”
Godwin_chukwu: “why will police arrest you for recording if no be bad thing them dey do.”
Saudizofficial: “I actually laughed😂 but you were not supposed to be arrested for making a video,it’s just a bad country.”
Funds: “That guy fit point anybody for road that dey if the pressure too much, our police nor first dey investigate any matter.”
God Why: “Nigeria all of us no normal for this country again.”
BOSCO KING: “do you know that videoing police is actually your right them arresting you is violating you right. but Nigeria police no get trading.”
princessmarry269: “Dem don arrest my bro for recording only for us to go station and tell them he don’t even have phone before he was released and they apologized that it was a mistake they thought he was recording 😂😂.”
WATCH VIDEO:
@weotiktok
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My experience inside police jail 🚨👮🏴☠ #police #explore #jailexperience
♬ original sound – WEO of TikTok