A video of a suspect being shot after being restrained by a Delta police officer has circulated on social media.
In the less than two-minute video, the male suspect can be seen sitting on the ground with his hands tied behind his back with a rope.
The suspect can be heard appealing with the police officers not to shoot him, claiming that he was deceived by a friend who lives in the Sapele area of Delta state.
Crying, the suspect said he would take the officers to the friend’s house in Sapele.
“Officers, abeg, I go tell you everything. Na my friend deceived me. E dey Sapele. I go carry you go the place,” the suspect begged the officers in Pidgin English
As the suspect was pleading with the officers, one of them, dressed in mufti, was seen cocking his rifle and then shooting directly at the suspect.
Immediately, the suspect lay on the floor as passers-by watched the incident.
Afterwards, the police officers carried the body into a Toyota Sienna vehicle with the inscription: “The Nigeria Police Force Effurun Area Command, Uvwie”.
It was said that the suspect was allegedly found in possession of a weapon.
The video has seen provoked outrage on social media.
Bright Edafe, the Delta police spokesperson, identified the suspect as Mene Ogidi, 28, in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to Edafe, Ogidi died after being shot by a police officer named Nuhu Usman.
He stated that Usman had been arrested and sent to the state police headquarters in Asaba for proper disciplinary action.
“The unfortunate incident occurred when operatives attached to Area Command Effurun received credible intelligence from members of the public regarding the deceased, who was reportedly apprehended while attempting to waybill a parcel containing a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition,” the statement reads.
“Police operatives were promptly deployed to the scene to take the suspect into custody. However, the police officer leading the team, ASP Nuhu Usman, in clear violation of Force Order 237 and the Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force, discharged his firearm, leading to the death of the suspect.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police directed the Area Commander, Effurun, to immediately arrest ASP Nuhu Usman and transfer him to the State Headquarters, Asaba, for necessary disciplinary action.
“The officer has since been queried and transferred to Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he will appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee, currently in session, for immediate disciplinary sanction and prosecution.
“The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, psc, acipm, mnips, extends his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased, Mene Ogidi, and assures the bereaved family that the Command is fully committed to ensuring that justice is served.”
