Nigerians have been outraged by the incident which was captured in a viral video.
The police have confirmed that seven of their officers deliberately ran their patrol vehicle over a handcuffed man in Edo State.
“A police team ran a vehicle over a citizen on Thursday June 29, 2023 at Ekpoma, Edo State,” Force spokesperson CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Friday evening where he quoted the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, as condemning the officers’ action.
The Ag.IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, said the incident was “disturbing” and the officers’ acted unprofessionally.
Nigerians have been outraged by the incident which was captured in a viral video which was disseminated to Aiyekooto Reporters hub. In the 19-second clip, a handcuffed man is lying on a road while a police vehicle – a Sienna car – ran over him.
People screamed for the officers to stop, while the handcuffed man was powerless beneath the vehicle.
The Edo State Police Command said the seven officers had been arrested and that they were being questioned in the state over the incident.
The inspector-general of police has, however, ordered that the erring officers should be brought to the Force Headquarters Abuja for “further action.” CSP Muyiwa Adejobi said in the statement released.
What really happened?
The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Adamu Dankwara, condemned the action of the officers, describing it as “barbaric, inhumane and unprofessional”, according to a statement from the Police Public Relation Officer in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor.
The Command Spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor identified the leader of the police team as Magdalene Osayande, an Assistant Superintendent of police.
The officers were detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, where they are being interrogated Nwabuzor said.
The PPRO identified the victim as Success Ehimare whom he said was “intercepted” with an unregistered Lexus car and that he allegedly refused to show the vehicle’s papers to the officers.
According to him, Mr Ehimare became aggressive, attacked the officers, and “inflicted injuries” on them and “destroyed” the police vehicle.
He said the victim had received treatment at a hospital and was in good condition after the incident.
