The Delta State Police Command has officially announced that the officers responsible for the extrajudicial killing of a suspect in a widely circulated viral video will face trial for murder.
Confirming the decision on April 29, 2026, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, disclosed that the internal disciplinary proceedings against the erring personnel hascommenced.
The incident, which took place in Delta State, initially sparked intense public outrage after footage emerged showing the officers engaging in a fatal confrontation with a suspect who appeared to pose no immediate threat. The video captured the moment the situation escalated into an unprovoked shooting, leading to the suspect’s death on the scene and drawing sharp condemnation from human rights activists and the general public across social media platforms.
The background to this case traces back to an operation where the officers were reportedly investigating a local matter before the encounter turned violent. According to preliminary reports, the deceased was intercepted by the police team, and during an interaction, the situation was handled with what the Command has now termed a “gross departure” from standard operating procedures and Force Order 237.
Following the viral spread of the footage, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, ordered the immediate identification, arrest, and detention of the officers involved. The Command emphasized that while the police are tasked with fighting crime and apprehending suspects, the use of lethal force must be strictly justified.
With the conclusion of the orderly room trial, the officers have been dismissed from the force to pave the way for their criminal prosecution. The PPRO reiterated that the decision to try the men for murder serves as a clear signal that the Nigeria Police Force will not shield any operative found guilty of brutality or the unlawful killing of citizens.
