The Nigeria Police has denounced the assault on two students of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, reportedly carried out by unidentified men suspected to be police officers.
The condemnation comes in the wake of a viral video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing the assault. The video, posted by a user with the handle ‘Ughellivibes’, depicted scenes where young men were being beaten with batons by individuals believed to be police officers while onlookers gathered.
In response to the incident, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, criticized the act, emphasizing that the Force does not condone any indecent or unprofessional behavior. He urged the Delta State Police Command to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.
Adejobi stated, “We should investigate this. We must be able to justify our actions at all times. The beating is reprehensible and unprofessional. As I always emphasize, the police have the authority to arrest, search, enforce the law, and use minimum force to carry out their operations, but this must be done with decorum, professionalism, and proportionality. We do not support any indecent or unprofessional behavior. Absolutely not.”
In response to the incident, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, urged members of the public to provide the command with details of the victims, emphasizing the need for cooperation in the investigation.
Efforts to obtain updates from Edafe regarding the progress of the police investigation were unsuccessful, as calls and texts to him went unanswered.
Meanwhile, residents in the Jogor Centre area of Ibadan, Oyo State, have expressed outrage over the alleged assault of a 17-year-old boy who was reportedly hospitalized after being slapped by a policeman. The incident, which occurred on December 27, 2023, during the festive period, has sparked outcry among eyewitnesses, who have since come forward with videos and pictures documenting the incident.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the boy, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his status as a minor, had recently returned from the United States to visit his elderly grandmother but became a victim of police brutality. Sola Ajayi, a resident in the area, questioned whether appearing well-dressed warranted such an assault on the boy.
