Police Detain Officers Over Extrajudicial Killing Of Vigilante Leader
Following a protest by the people of Idjerhe Kingdom, Ethiope West Council Area of Delta State, over an alleged shooting of their local vigilante commander and two others by policemen, the State Police Command has identified and detained the officers.
The Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, according to a statement by the Command’s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, ordered investigation into the matter “while an internal disciplinary action has been initiated”.
Scores of women, as well as traditional chiefs of Idjerhe had embarked on a protest against what they termed “intimidation and harassment” of their people by uniformed men, calling for the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
A statement by the Otota (spoken) of the kingdom, Chief Onisia Obriki, which condemned the action of the policemen, recounted the incident which occurred on Tuesday, January 30.
It disclosed that the victims identified as Freeborn Ofeshohwo (vigilante Commander), Friday Johnson and Enor Young, are battling for their lives at an undisclosed hospital.
Calling for an investigation of the incident, the statement said: “We the people of great Idjerhe Kingdom hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to properly investigate and arrest all the police officers that were involved in this unprofessional misconduct”.
Responding to the call, the CP, however, reassured residents of the state that “it’s not in the character of the Command to trample on the rights of citizens, assault, or use their rifles without recourse to Force Order 237.
“He appealed to members of the public, particularly indigenes of Idjerhe Kingdom, and the families of the injured vigilantes to remain calm, and assured them of justice”.
