A dramatic security breach unfolded at a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in Owerri, Imo State, after a man was discovered hiding in the bank’s ceiling overnight in an alleged attempt to hack into its computer systems.
According to eyewitness accounts and a widely circulated video on social media, the suspect entered the bank during regular business hours posing as a customer. He reportedly locked himself in one of the restrooms, climbed into the ceiling void, and remained concealed there after the bank closed for the day.
Bank staff arriving the next morning became suspicious after discovering the restroom door locked from the inside. Upon forcing it open, they reportedly found the suspect attempting to access a computer terminal, which displayed a suspicious system message.
Security personnel were immediately alerted, and the man was apprehended. However, the situation took a disturbing turn when he was physically assaulted by security operatives, with footage showing officers beating and stomping on him. The video quickly went viral, drawing public outrage.
Many Nigerians expressed deep concern over both the security lapse that allowed such an incident and the violent treatment of the suspect by law enforcement. Critics questioned the professionalism of the officers involved, describing their actions as excessive and potentially life-threatening.
One online user commented: “Why are Nigerian police officers so unprofessional? Stomping on someone’s chest and head could lead to internal bleeding or even death before an investigation is conducted.” Another wrote, “Caught on camera, yet brutalised. This is exactly why many Nigerians don’t trust either the police or banking institutions.”
Reacting to the video, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, condemned the conduct of the officers involved, describing it as “unprofessional” and pledging a full investigation into the matter.
“The actions captured in the video are unacceptable. We are reviewing the incident holistically and appropriate steps will be taken,” he stated.
As of the time of this report, FCMB has not released an official statement regarding the attempted security breach or the response by its staff and security agents.
