Former Big Brother Naija housemate Tuoyo Ideh has accused officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of beating him during a raid at Proxy Nightclub in Victoria Island, Lagos. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, during an NDLEA operation that also led to the arrest of Pretty Mike, a well-known Lagos socialite, and more than 100 other guests. The NDLEA said the raid was based on information about a possible drug party happening at the club.
In a video shared on Instagram on Monday night, Tuoyo explained that he was at the club for work as a promoter, helping clients book a table. He said things quickly turned chaotic when NDLEA officers, along with military personnel, entered the club.
“All I heard was ‘Everybody go down!’” Tuoyo said. “They told us to drop our phones and searched me, my bag, my socks, everything. They didn’t find anything, but still made us sit on the floor outside for hours.”
Tuoyo claimed that even though he was cleared after the search, he was still taken into custody and later beaten by officers after they found out he had posted about the raid on social media.
“A woman pointed at me, and five men rushed at me,” he said. “They slapped me, beat me with sticks, and one even said, ‘Na you go post abi? Shoot him.’ I was rolling on the ground as they kept hitting me. I thought I would die.”
He added that the beating only stopped when a female officer intervened, though she later ordered him to do frog jumps despite his injuries.
In his post, Tuoyo wrote: “Nigeria finally happened to me, Everything that happened on Saturday when I was out at Proxy Lagos to Ndlea office. I can’t even stand or lie down properly, the pain the Ndlea officers inflicted on me after beating me like a criminal my whole body, my legs, hands, back and my head is in so much pain not even funny at all. Yesterday I felt so helpless, the intimidation and humiliation was so much on me and everyone else present. We stay in a country in which our human rights are taken from us, and no single freedom of speech.”
Tuoyo’s video has since gone viral, with many Nigerians, including celebrities, condemning the alleged assault and calling for an investigation into NDLEA’s conduct. Celebrities such as Ruggedman wrote: “What’s your next line of action, bro?” Kate Henshaw commented, “Nigeria” with sad emojis. A former BBNaija star, Elozonam, also wrote: “Nigeria isn’t a real place. They wanted to intimidate us, but they don’t know we have coconut heads. If they were doing the right thing, they wouldn’t be angry about you posting. Crazy people.” Comedian MC Edo Pikin wrote: “This is a jungle, not a country, sorry my man.”
