Delta Police Officers In Alleged Shooting Of Vigilante Boss, Two Others Identified, Detained

…As Delta CP orders thorough investigation into incident

The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, has taken action against the police officers involved in the shooting of a vigilante commander and two others in Idjerhe kingdom.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the CP ordered their detention and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a full-scale thorough investigation into the incident.

The vigilante Commander and two others were fatally shot by policemen who claimed to be searching for cultists and drugs, according to indigenes who protested the dastardly attack and invasion of the community on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the Great Idjerhe Kingdom, Chief Onosia James Obriki who gave details of the incident, stated that the police officers arrived in the kingdom on January 30, 2024, claiming to be searching for drugs but their claim was found to be false.

He alleged that the true intention of the officers was to harass and extort money from the vigilante commander, Mr Freeborn Ofeshohwo Alia’s Cornerstone, in the guise of hunting after cultists.

The community leaders call on the new Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the incident and bring the officers to book for their actions.

The community leaders mentioned that three abandoned ID cards which read Sgt. Sunday Owor, with the number 477467 of the Delta State Command; Sunday Owor with his rank as Inspector (the Nigeria Police Warrant Card); and the third ID card, though blurred, also reads Sunday Owor with the same number were seen at the scene after the officer fled the community.

Meanwhile, reacting to the alleged incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed that the officers responsible have been identified, and detained while internal disciplinary action has been initiated against them.

He said that the CP strongly condemned the act maintaining that it is unacceptable for police officers to violate the rights of citizens or use their firearms without following proper procedures.

He assured the public that the officers involved will be dealt with according to the law and regulations of the Police Act to serve as a deterrent to others.

Edafe noted that under the police commissioner’s watch, “such conduct by officers of the command will not be tolerated”.

“He has therefore tasked officers and men to uphold the tenets of professional policing in the discharge of their duties with respect to the rights of all citizens in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) while hoping that the actions taken on the erring officers will serve as a deterrent to others.

“He appealed to members of the public, particularly indigenes of Idjerhe Kingdom, and the families of the injured vigilantes who are currently receiving treatment to remain calm and assure them of justice”, the statement reads.