Officer Who Killed Suspect Will Face Murder Trial, Says Delta Police

The spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, has said the officer who shot and killed a 28-year-old suspect, Mene Ogidi, in Effurun, will be prosecuted for murder, describing the incident as unjustifiable and deeply troubling.

Edafe made this known on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while reacting to the viral video showing the extrajudicial killing carried out by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Nuhu Usman.

According to the police, the incident occurred on April 26, 2026, after operatives of the Effurun Area Command acted on intelligence that the deceased had been apprehended while attempting to send a parcel containing a Beretta pistol and four rounds of ammunition through a waybill service.

The command stated that the officer violated Force Order 237 and the Nigeria Police Force’s Standard Operating Procedure by discharging his firearm and killing the suspect.

Reacting, Edafe described the development as one of the most difficult moments of his career.

“I will start with the issue at hand, which is a very sad issue.

“Since my six years of public relations, this is my most difficult moment, because having an incident that cannot be explained is very difficult. There is no explanation for this.

“That policeman, I just don’t get what I will say was wrong with him.

“Police cannot attribute problems to spirituality, but that may not be far from me, because that’s the only explanation that one can give to what he did,” he said.

Edafe explained that transport companies had been advised to inspect parcels amid concerns that criminals were using waybill services to move weapons and drugs.

He said the suspect was arrested after a search revealed a firearm in the parcel and was subsequently restrained, with officers directed to bring him in.

“We told the transport company of the need to search the waybill before they allow it to fly because drug peddlers and gun barons started using this means to transport such items.

“On Sunday, this young man came with a waybill, and after a check, a Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition was found. He was arrested, tied, and the area command was contacted,” he said.

Edafe noted that a surveillance team led by the officer was instructed to retrieve the suspect, stressing that the directive was clear.

“The instruction was very clear, go and bring the suspect. That was the instruction,” he added.

He, however, expressed shock that despite the suspect being restrained and pleading for his life, the officer allegedly attempted to shoot him, reloaded, and fired again.

“So one would wonder why a suspect who is not a threat to you, a suspect who is already tied, a suspect who was begging for his life, you try to shoot him the first time it did not work, you reload and shoot him again,” Edafe said.

He assured the public that the police would not shield the officer, adding that disciplinary proceedings had commenced and that the suspect would face murder charges.

“It is not explainable, it is not pardonable, and I want members of the public to know that the police do not cover officers like that.

“I’m very sure he will have his day in court and will face murder charges,” he stated.

Edafe further disclosed that the officer had been transferred from Asaba through Benin City to Abuja for further investigation and disciplinary action.

“There is already an ongoing session of the force disciplinary committee that will handle his case, and I believe by the end of today we will hear the outcome,” he said.

He reiterated that every suspect has a right to life, warning officers against misuse of firearms.

“Every suspect has a right to life. Nobody has the monopoly of violence. Don’t just go about killing people because you are carrying firearms given to you by the government to protect life and property,” Edafe added.