Delta state police apprehend officers recorded on video attacking a man who demanded they display their bare hands prior to searching his bag.
The Delta state police command has responded to a widely circulated video highlighting the unprofessional behavior of certain officers within the command.
An eyewitness reported that the officers allegedly halted the young man along Hospital Road in Asaba. The eyewitnesses stated that when the officers were about to inspect his bag, the victim insisted that they must first show their bare hands before touching his bag, as he was concerned they might plant something incriminating in it. The eyewitnesses claim that this stance angered the officers, who then proceeded to assault him.
In response to the video, the command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, in a statement issued on Sunday, July 27, said that upon receiving the video, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, promptly ordered the identification of the officers involved and their immediate summons to the command headquarters for swift disciplinary measures.
Edafe noted that the officers have been identified and detained pending the start of their orderly room trial, while their Team Leader, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, has been issued a query.
Edafe emphasized that the CP reaffirms that it is not in the nature of the Command to violate the rights of citizens, assault, or harass individuals. He assured the public that the officers involved will face firm consequences in line with the established laws outlined in the Police Act and regulations to serve as a warning to others, stating that such behavior will not be condoned under his leadership.
He has therefore urged officers and men to adhere to the principles of professional policing in carrying out their duties, respecting the fundamental human rights of all citizens as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), while expressing hope that the measures taken against the erring officers will deter others.
He appealed to the public to remain calm and assured them of justice.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
