The Edo State Police Command has ordered a discreet investigation into an altercation involving officers of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) and personnel of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The investigation followed the emergence of a video on X on Thursday showing an encounter between the officers, during which an IRT operative was seen firing his rifle into the air.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, had met with representatives of both parties and directed an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Ikoedem said the police authorities were particularly concerned about the conduct of the officer seen firing the weapon.
“The Commissioner of Police has also directed that the conduct of the officer seen firing the rifle be subjected to appropriate disciplinary review,” the statement said.
The command stressed that it would not tolerate indiscipline, unprofessional conduct or abuse of police powers by its personnel.
“Any officer, irrespective of the agency, found culpable after due investigation will be appropriately sanctioned in line with extant laws and regulations,” it added.
The police further reaffirmed its commitment to inter-agency cooperation and mutual respect among security and government agencies.
According to the command, effective public safety requires security agencies to work together professionally and within the limits of their respective mandates.
“The incident is therefore being treated with the seriousness it deserves, without prejudice to the established working relationship between the Edo State Police Command and EDSTMA,” the statement added.
The command also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
It urged anyone with complaints of police misconduct to make use of the Police Complaint Response Unit rather than resorting to confrontation or self-help.
