- A Delta police officer shot dead a restrained, pleading suspect on Sunday.
- The shooting incensed and outraged several Nigerians.
- IGP Disu ordered the officer’s dismissal and criminal prosecution after an expedited disciplinary hearing.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has ordered the dismissal and criminal prosecution of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers involved in the extrajudicial killing of 28-year-old Mene Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, on Sunday.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the directive follows the conclusion of expedited disciplinary proceedings at Force headquarters in Abuja, where all officers connected to the incident were transferred after a video of the shooting went viral on social media.
EDITOR’S PICKS
The development came less than 24 hours after EKO HOT BLOG reported how the killing — captured on video and watched by a horrified public — was not just a scandal but a test of IGP Disu’s reform agenda, and how the deep rot within the Nigeria Police Force would make his mission far from easy.
In a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer DCP Anthony Okon Placid on Wednesday, the Nigeria Police Force said the Force Disciplinary Committee had concluded its review and found that Usman acted “in gross violation of Force Order 237 and other extant regulations governing the use of firearms.”
The committee described his actions as “unlawful, unprofessional, and a clear betrayal of the oath to protect life and uphold the law.”
Disu approved the committee’s recommendation for Usman’s immediate dismissal and forwarded it to the Police Service Commission for ratification. Once administrative procedures are completed, the affected officers will be handed over to judicial authorities for prosecution.
From viral video to Abuja
The incident occurred on Sunday at the Benin Motor Park along the Warri–Sapele Expressway. Operatives from the Effurun Area Command had responded to a tip that Ogidi was found with a parcel allegedly containing a Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition.
In the video that subsequently circulated on social media, Ogidi is seen sitting on the ground with his hands tied behind his back, pleading with officers and offering to lead them to a friend in Sapele he said had deceived him. Usman, dressed in mufti, cocked his rifle and shot him dead. Officers then loaded his body into a police vehicle and drove off.
The video sparked immediate public outrage. By Tuesday, the Delta State Commissioner of Police had arrested Usman and transferred him and his team to Abuja. The Force Disciplinary Committee moved with unusual speed, concluding proceedings and producing recommendations within days.
Justice must now be seen
In his statement, Disu assured the family of the deceased that “justice will not only be served but seen to be served, in a manner that reinforces public confidence and institutional accountability.”
He reiterated that “no uniform confers the right to take life outside the provisions of the law” and that any officer who violates that principle “will face the full weight of disciplinary and legal consequences.”
FURTHER READING
For many Nigerians, incensed by yet another police execution captured on camera, the dismissal recommendation, while welcome, is only the beginning. They will be watching closely to see whether prosecution follows through, whether convictions are secured, and whether the courts deliver sentences proportionate to what the video so plainly shows.
Click to watch the video of the week below:
