The university town of Ekpoma in the Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State was left in shock on Thursday evening. A team of policemen, utilizing their official vehicle, a black sienna bus provided by the Edo State Government, were involved in a distressing incident. The policemen ran over a handcuffed middle-aged man who had been instructed to lie down by the officers.
The incident, which unfolded on Friday morning, was captured in a viral video. It showcased a crowd of onlookers gathering around the handcuffed man, who lay on the ground in front of the police vehicle. Shockingly, the driver of the vehicle proceeded to move, running over the man and dragging him for over 100 meters. Even as the crowd shouted in horror, the driver callously ignored their pleas.
Understandably, the incident sparked outrage among the gathered crowd. However, any protest or outcry was swiftly silenced when the policemen fired gunshots into the air, dispersing the angry mob.
In response to the growing uproar, the Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, issued a press statement. He assured the public that the policemen involved had been arrested and that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, had called for calm.
According to the official statement, the incident occurred on June 29, 2023, at approximately 5:00 PM. ASP Magdalene Osayande reported at the Ekpoma Divisional Police Headquarters, Ekpoma, Edo State, detailing the preliminary findings. The incident took place when Osayande and her team of six policemen were conducting routine stop and search duties along Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma, Edo State. They intercepted an unregistered Lexus car and requested the driver to present the vehicle particulars.
However, the situation escalated when the driver became aggressive, refusing to comply with the officers’ requests. He not only attacked them but also caused harm to the policemen and even damaged their patrol vehicle.
The statement clarifies that the man in question, identified as Success Ehimare, was subsequently apprehended, handcuffed, and taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital for medical treatment. Fortunately, he is reported to be in good health.
In light of this shocking incident, CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara, the Commissioner of Police, has strongly condemned the behavior of the officer captured in the viral video. He described the act as barbaric, inhumane, and unprofessional. In response, he has directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ekpoma to identify, arrest, and bring the officer to the State Police Headquarters in Benin for further investigation and debriefing. The officers involved have already been apprehended and are currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department.
This alarming incident has raised significant concerns about police conduct and the need for accountability within law enforcement agencies. As the public awaits further developments in the case, it is crucial that justice is served and measures are taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
