A 28-year-old Nigeria police officer, identified as Ogidi Mena, who gun down a handcuffed criminal suspect with his rifle in a viral video, has been arrested by police authorities.
The alleged extrajudicial killing involving a police officer in Delta State, sparking outrage and calls for a thorough investigation by Nigerians and Amnesty International.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, April 26, at Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area, involved an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Nuhu Usman, also known as Ogbegbe.
Witness accounts indicate that the deceased had visited Effurun Main Park along Sapele Road to collect a waybill on behalf of a friend. Sources at the motor park said he was asked to open the package after being queried about its contents.
Upon inspection, the parcel was found to contain a Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of live ammunition. The discovery prompted park officials to detain Mena, who reportedly insisted he was unaware of the contents and offered to lead them to the sender.
The park leadership subsequently restrained him and contacted the Uvwie Area Command for further investigation.
Following the report, the Area Commander, ACP Aliyu Shaba, directed a patrol team led by ASP Usman to take custody of the suspect and transport him to the station.
However, witnesses alleged that upon arrival at the park, ASP Usman fired at the suspect, injuring him. Mena was then reportedly taken into a police vehicle and transported to the Ekpan Police Station.
Sources further alleged that upon arrival at the station, the officer shot the suspect multiple times, resulting in his death.
Confirming developments after the incident, it was gathered that ACP Shaba, who reportedly heard gunshots at the station, intervened promptly. The officer involved was said to have been disarmed, arrested, and detained alongside members of his team.
Police authorities in Delta State have since escalated the matter. The suspects were reportedly transferred to Asaba on Monday and subsequently moved to Zone 5 Headquarters in Benin City, with indications they may be further transferred to the Force Headquarters for disciplinary and legal proceedings.
Reacting to the development, a rights advocate, Comrade Israel Joe, condemned the killing, describing it as a “clear case of extrajudicial execution.”
He questioned the circumstances surrounding the shooting, particularly why the suspect was allegedly killed before being fully interrogated.
“Even if found in possession of a firearm, it does not justify summary execution. There are critical questions that must be answered,” he said.
The advocate also called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including the role of officers involved and the circumstances leading to the recovery of the firearm.
Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Command for official comment were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have urged the police authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in handling the case, emphasizing the need to uphold the rule of law and prevent future occurrences.
