By Mokobia Rita
ASABA/Nigeria: Nigeria’s policing authorities have come under intense scrutiny following the fatal shooting of a young suspect in Effurun, Delta State, with the command admitting it is struggling to account for the conduct of the officer involved in the widely circulated incident.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, in a live television appearance, described the episode as one of the most troubling in his career, saying the officer’s actions fell completely outside professional reasoning and established procedures.
The incident occurred on April 26, 2026, during a police operation in Effurun, where the victim, 28-year-old Mene Ogidi, was reportedly intercepted over a parcel suspected to contain a firearm.
According to police accounts, the operation was based on intelligence reports, with officers deployed to investigate and effect a lawful arrest.
However, the situation took a tragic turn when the team leader, ASP Nuhu Usman, allegedly opened fire on the suspect in public view, killing him instantly.
The disturbing footage, which has since gone viral, has provoked nationwide condemnation and reignited concerns over the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers.
In an official response, the police command acknowledged that the officer acted in violation of Force Order 237 and other operational guidelines governing the use of firearms.
Edafe, reacting to the development, said the command itself remains baffled by the incident, stressing that there was no justification for the officer’s conduct.
“This is one case that is very difficult to explain. There is absolutely no justification for what happened,” he said, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Authorities confirmed that the officer has been taken into custody and transferred to Abuja, where further investigation and disciplinary procedures are underway.
The Nigeria Police Force has also pledged that the matter will be handled transparently, assuring that justice will be pursued without bias.
Nevertheless, the incident continues to stir public anger, with human rights advocates calling for deeper reforms and stricter accountability within the force.
For many Nigerians, the killing represents yet another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over police conduct, raising urgent questions about oversight, discipline and the protection of citizens’ rights.
As the investigation unfolds, the haunting images from the incident remain etched in public consciousness, reinforcing demands that this case must not follow the familiar path of unresolved accountability
