Asaba, Delta State – The Delta State Police Command has arrested a yet-to-be-identified officer captured in a viral video firing a shot at an unarmed civilian’s vehicle in Asaba.
The disturbing footage, which sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompted swift action from the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, who ordered an immediate investigation into the officer’s conduct.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, the police described the officer’s behaviour as “unprofessional and unbecoming of a law enforcement agent.”
“The command is aware of the viral video of a policeman who shot at a moving vehicle in Asaba. After a careful examination of the video clip, it is clear that the policeman acted in an unprofessional manner, unbecoming of a police officer,” the statement read.
“The command condemns his act in totality as no policeman has the right to use his firearm without recourse to Force Order 237. It is the duty of every Nigerian Police officer to protect lives and property and not to put the life of anybody in danger.”
Edafe confirmed that the officer had been summoned and apprehended at the command headquarters, adding that preliminary findings revealed he was responding to a hit-and-run incident at the time of the shooting.
However, he reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force prohibits the use of firearms without clear justification under Force Order 237.
“The CP assures members of the public that the officer concerned will be dealt with in accordance with the extant laws as stipulated in the Police Act and Regulations to serve as a deterrent to others,” Edafe added.
“The protection of life and property in the state remains the priority of the Command.”
The incident adds to a growing list of cases involving alleged excessive use of force by police officers across Nigeria.
In April 2024, a police sergeant in Lagos was dismissed after shooting an unarmed motorist during an argument at a checkpoint a case that reignited public calls for deeper reforms in police accountability and training.
