A video has gone viral on social media showing Naval Officer Lt. Ahmed Yerima being stopped by police officers in Abuja for allegedly driving a vehicle with a covered number plate. The footage has sparked widespread discussions online, with many users debating the legality of his actions and the conduct of the police during the incident.
The incident reportedly took place on 16 November 2025 at approximately 6:15 p.m. at the NNPC Junction along the Kubwa Expressway. According to reports, police officers on patrol observed an ash-coloured Toyota Camry with fully tinted windows and a concealed license plate, prompting them to stop the vehicle for verification.
Officer Asked to Identify Himself
In the video, one of the police officers is seen questioning Lt. Yerima, requesting that he identify himself. The officer was heard saying:
“He came with a car with the plate number covered. We stopped him. He claimed he is an officer but could not identify himself.”
Lt. Yerima was seen attempting to show his identification card to the officers. However, the police reportedly claimed that the ID could not be clearly seen. Despite this, Lt. Yerima remained calm and compliant throughout the interaction, carefully presenting his credentials twice to clarify his identity as a Naval officer.
Police Dismiss Assault Allegations
The video circulated amid unverified claims that Lt. Yerima had been assaulted or targeted during the stop. The FCT Police Command has publicly dismissed these allegations, describing them as false and grossly misleading. The police emphasized that the stop-and-search operation was conducted professionally, in line with standard operational procedures, and with no intent to harass the officer.
Social Media Reactions
The incident has elicited a wide range of reactions from netizens, with many users commenting on both Lt. Yerima’s conduct and the police’s approach. Some notable reactions include:
@Akande1046875 reacted: “How many officers in Nigeria even use proper plate numbers? Even NSCDC officers don’t use plate numbers.”
@RedRose1 said: “Something is fishy. The next tussle is going to be between the Nigerian Military and the Police. The handwriting is on the wall. Police Officers have not forgotten how AM Yerima belittled one of them last time. Lol. May that not happen please.”
@aroman2dollers stated: “Watch him bringing out his identity card. Why are the police officers yelling? They’re trying to justify to whoever sent them that they are doing a good job. Does what happened there look like a troubled situation? No! But they want to score points negatively.”
@Gerryubz said: “Yerima is too gentle. He stopped, wound down his window, identified himself as an Army officer, and showed his ID twice. Some Army officers won’t even do half of this. Covering his plate is for security reasons, especially after the Wike incident.”
@RuhamahDa commented: “The other officer saw the ID card and began changing his tone: ‘You know I didn’t even see it.’”
The video has continued to generate conversations about the relationship between military personnel and law enforcement in Nigeria, as well as the security protocols employed by officers driving official vehicles in sensitive circumstances.
Watch the full video below: