The Nigeria Police Force has condemned the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old suspect, Mene Ogidi, in Effurun, Delta State, describing the incident as a clear violation of its rules of engagement and professional standards.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, involved operatives attached to the Effurun Area Command who had responded to credible intelligence from Benin Motor Park along the Warri–Sapele Expressway. The suspect was reportedly apprehended by members of a transport union while attempting to waybill a parcel containing a Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the police said the situation turned tragic when the team leader, Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman, discharged his firearm in contravention of established regulations, leading to the suspect’s death.
The police leadership has since ordered the immediate transfer of the officer and his team to Force Headquarters in Abuja, where they are to face the Force Disciplinary Committee for summary disciplinary measures and possible prosecution.
Similarly, the Delta State Police Command confirmed the arrest and transfer of the officer, noting that the action followed widespread public outrage triggered by a viral video of the incident circulating on social media.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, stated that the officer’s actions violated Force Order 237 and the Nigeria Police Force’s Standard Operating Procedures, describing the killing as an extrajudicial act.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Yemi Oyeniyi, had immediately ordered the arrest of the officer upon receiving reports of the incident and directed his transfer to the State Headquarters in Asaba before his eventual relocation to Abuja.
“The officer has been queried and will appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee, currently in session, for immediate disciplinary action and prosecution,” Edafe said, reiterating the command’s commitment to accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights.
The Inspector-General of Police also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and assured them that justice would be served in accordance with the law, while urging the public to remain calm as investigations and disciplinary processes continue.
Public anger intensified after a disturbing 90-second video surfaced online showing the suspect bound on the ground, pleading for his life and offering to cooperate with the officers. In the footage, the suspect repeatedly begged for mercy, claiming he had been misled by an associate, before being shot first in the leg and later in the head by an armed officer in the presence of bystanders.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on extrajudicial killings, abuse of authority, and any conduct capable of eroding public trust, assuring that those found culpable would be held accountable.
