A video circulating widely on social media has sparked anger and debate across Nigeria after it showed a man desperately trying to explain that he is mentally sound during a police operation targeted at homeless and mentally ill persons. The man, who spoke passionately in Yoruba throughout the clip, repeatedly insisted that he was sane and had only been going about his daily activities when officers wrongly arrested him.
The incident, which appears to have taken place during a routine street sweep by law enforcement agents, has raised serious questions about the methods used in such operations. While many viewers initially reacted with humour, laughing at the man’s desperate explanations, others quickly pointed out that the situation reveals a deeper problem with policing, profiling, and human rights in Nigeria.
In the now-viral clip, the man is seen sitting on the ground among several individuals believed to be mentally ill. He looks distressed and confused as he tries to convince officers that he was wrongly profiled. Speaking in Yoruba, he pleads repeatedly: “Mo wa normal, mo wa okay, e jowo e gba mi” (“I am normal, I am fine, please help me”).
He gestures with his hands, pointing to his clothes and belongings to prove he is mentally stable. He also attempts to explain what he was doing before he was picked up, but officers in the background appear uninterested in listening to him.
Social media users who understand Yoruba noted that his tone and appearance clearly showed a man trying to defend himself, not someone who is mentally unstable. The fact that he was placed among mentally ill individuals only added to the humiliation he felt.
Although some Nigerians initially found humour in the man’s frantic efforts to explain himself, many others strongly condemned the incident. Commenters on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram said the situation highlighted a dangerous pattern of profiling by the police and other security agencies.
One user wrote: “It may look funny online, but imagine if it was your brother or friend being dragged away wrongly. This is not acceptable.”
Another said: “This should worry everyone. Today it’s him, tomorrow it could be anyone walking on the road. We need proper procedures.”
Across many Nigerian cities, especially Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Abuja, police and environmental task forces often conduct raids aimed at clearing streets of homeless people, beggars, drug users, and mentally ill individuals. These operations are usually carried out under state sanitation laws or public order regulations.
However, several past incidents show that innocent people can sometimes be caught up in these sweeps. Human rights organisations have long criticised the lack of proper identification methods and the absence of trained mental health professionals during such raids.
In many cases, those arrested are taken to shelters, psychiatric facilities, or holding centres without interviewing them or checking their identities. This has led to wrongful detentions and mistreatment.
Nigeria lacks an effective national system for managing mental health issues. According to experts, the country has fewer than one psychiatrist per 500,000 people, and most mental health services are concentrated in big cities. As a result, many people with mental illnesses end up living on the streets without proper care.
State governments sometimes respond by removing them from public areas, but these operations often involve officers who have no training in mental health assessment. This creates opportunities for wrongful arrests like the one seen in the viral video.
Following the circulation of the video, many Nigerians have called for reforms in how law enforcement handles street sweeps. Several people said simple steps—such as asking for identification, interviewing individuals, or giving them a chance to explain themselves—could prevent such wrongful arrests.
A legal practitioner commenting online said: “You cannot just pick someone because he looks unkempt or is standing near people with mental illness. It violates the constitution and basic human rights.”
Beyond public outrage, the situation raises concerns about the emotional and psychological impact on the man who was wrongly arrested. Being dragged away, made to sit among mentally unstable individuals, and filmed while pleading for recognition could leave lasting trauma.
One comment on Facebook summarized the broader sentiment: “This video is sad, not funny. It shows how easily a person’s dignity can be taken away.”
As of the time of this report, police authorities have not released an official statement addressing the incident. It is also unclear whether the man has since been released, questioned further, or allowed to go home.
