The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Edo State Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, has disclosed that the policemen whose official vehicle ran over a handcuffed middle-aged man in the state have been arrested.
The incident was said to have happened on Thursday evening at university town of Ekpoma in the Esan West Local Government Area of the state but the video went viral on Friday.
In the now-viral video, the handcuffed man was seen lying down in front of the police van.
NIGERIACRIME observed in the video that he driver of the police van drove away running over the man and dragging him along the road for a few metres, while some people engaged his colleagues in a discussion.
This triggered the anger of the crowd who were dispersed by gunshots fired by the policemen.
However, updating newsmen on Friday, the police spokesperson said, “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it is aware of the trending video in the social media that shows some police officers with a Sienna vehicle used for police patrol that ran over a young man who was handcuffed.
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“The facts of the incident as gathered preliminarily indicate that on 29/06/2023 at about 17:00hrs, ASP Magdalene Osayande reported at Ekpoma Divisional Police Headquarters, Ekpoma, Edo State that while on routine stop and search duty with her team of six policemen along Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma, Edo State, intercepted a driver of unregistered Lexus car and demanded the vehicle particulars.”
“Along the line, he became aggressive and refused to oblige the request of the Police operatives, but rather attacked them, inflicted injuries on them, and destroyed the police vehicle.
“However, he was arrested, handcuffed, and identified as one Success Ehimare before the incident that is currently trending in social media occurred. He was later taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital for treatment, and he is in good health condition.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Adamu Dankwara, berated the affected officers for the actions, describing it as barbaric, inhumane, and unprofessional.
“He therefore gave a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma to identify, arrest, and bring to the State Police Headquarters Benin for brief and debrief. The officers have been arrested, and they are with the State Criminal Investigation Department,” he added.