IGP orders arrest of Edo policemen for crushing handcuffed suspect

The Acting Inspector-General (IGP) of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has issued an order for a group of policemen from the Edo State Police Command. The order comes after an incident where these officers ran over a handcuffed man with their police vehicle, which took place on Thursday.

A video that made rounds on the internet on Friday showed the handcuffed man lying in front of the police van.

In response to the incident, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, released a statement on Friday. He emphasized that the police force would not tolerate such unprofessional and illegal actions.

Adejobi stated, “The acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun has condemned the disturbing incident where a police team ran a vehicle over a citizen on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Ekpoma, Edo State.

“The IGP has, therefore, directed the erring policemen, who have been in detention in Edo State, to report to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday for further action.

“Members of the public, particularly the people of Ekpoma, are implored to remain calm as the present leadership of the NPF will not condone such an act of unprofessionalism and illegality.”

In the meantime, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, announced in a press statement that the policemen involved had been arrested.

The statement read in part; “The facts of the incident as gathered, indicate that on June 29, 2023, around 5pm, ASP Magdalene Osayande reported to the Ekpoma Divisional Police Headquarters, Ekpoma, Edo State, that while on a routine stop-and-search duty with her team of six policemen along Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma, Edo State, she intercepted the driver of an unregistered Lexus car and demanded the vehicle particulars.

“Along the line, he became aggressive and refused to oblige the request of the police operatives, but rather attacked them, inflicted injuries on them, and destroyed the police vehicle.

“However, he was arrested, handcuffed, and identified as one Success Ehimare before the incident that is currently trending in social media occurred. He was later taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital for treatment and he is in good health condition.

“In light of the above, CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara has condemned the action of the policemen that he saw in the trending video and he described their action as barbaric, inhumane, and unprofessional.

“He, therefore, gave a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma, to identify, arrest, and bring them to the state police headquarters Benin for brief and debrief. The officers have been arrested, and they are with the State Criminal Investigation Department.”