July 28, (THEWILL) — The Delta State Police Command has reacted to a viral video of the unprofessional conduct of some officers, who harassed and assaulted a man along hospital road in Asaba.
According to an eyewitness, the officers allegedly stopped the young man, demanding to search his bag.
“As they were about to search his bag, the victim insisted that the officers must show him their bare hands before they touch his bag, as he feared they might insert something incriminating in it. This position infuriated the officers who began to beat him”, an eyewitness narrated
Reacting to the video, the Spokesperson of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Sunday, said, “On receipt of this video, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately ordered that the Policemen be identified and brought before the Command headquarters for immediate disciplinary action.
According to Edafe, the officers have been identified and detained pending the commencement of their orderly room trial, while their Team leader, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, has been queried.
He added that the CP reiterates that it is not in the character of the Command to trample on the rights of citizens, assault or harass people. He assured members of the public that the officers concerned will be decisively dealt with in accordance with the extant laws as stipulated in the Police Act and regulations to serve as a deterrent to others, noting that under his watch, such conduct by officers will not be tolerated.
CP Abaniwonda has therefore tasked officers and men to uphold the tenets of professional policing in the discharge of their duties with respect to fundamental human 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 to remain calm and assured them of justice.
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