In what continues to be a major challenge to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), some of its operatives once again unleash mayhem on Effurun, Uwhie Council of Delta State, killing a civilian Oghenemene Ogidi, a development that sparks outrage across the country, but the Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu says the indicted officers have been dismissed
By Edu Abade
In what reminds Nigerians of the October 2020 shooting of the #EndSARS protesters in Lagos in which scores of Nigerian youths were killed, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is at present grappling with yet another gruesome case of extrajudicial killing of 28-year-old Oghenemene Ogidi by a trigger-happy officer, identified as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Nuhu Usman.
The ugly incident, which occurred in Effurun, Uwhie Local Government Area of Delta State, came to head when the deceased suspect was allegedly found with a gun. But eyewitnesses narrated that he (Ogidi) was explaining to the officers who apprehended him that he was asked to pick up the package (in which the gun was found) by someone from a transport company, having been sent as waybill.
Tentacle learnt that all pleas by the victim that he was innocent fell on deaf ears of Usman and his gang who shot and killed Ogidi after he was tied up at the Ekpan Police Station in Uwhie Council.
Narrating the family’s ordeal, Victory Ogidi shared a painful account of how his younger brother, whom they fondly call Mene, was killed by ASP Usman after leaving home on a simple errand.
Speaking in an interview, he explained that Mene, 28, had asked for transport money to help a friend pick up a parcel. After getting the money from their mother, he left the house and that was the last time the family saw him alive.
When Victory returned home the next day and noticed his brother was missing, he became worried. He later heard that Mene had been arrested. Determined to find him, he searched across two local government areas, visiting several police stations. At each station, he was told that no one knew anything about his brother.
Despite his efforts, there was no information about Mene’s whereabouts. Victory eventually returned to work, still confused and concerned.
He explained that he saw a video circulating online while at work, adding that was the moment he realized Mene had been killed.
Victory described the situation as deeply painful for his family and especially their mother, who is struggling to cope with the loss, having lost another son to the police in similar circumstances. He said the experience has left him devastated and searching for answers about why his brother was killed.
“When I started searching for my brother, I searched all the police stations two local governments, I went there. I came to Ekpan police station twice and they denied that they knew nothing about my brother. So, I went back to work, only for me to see the video of my brother trending online, where he was being shot by a police officer,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, a Superintendent of Police (SP), explained that after Ogidi was caught with a gun by park operators, they immediately tied his hands behind his back and reported the situation to the police. He said the park officials contacted the Area Commander of the Effurun Area Command, who then ordered a surveillance team to go and bring the suspect to the station.
Edafe said the surveillance team was led by ASP Usman, who was specifically instructed to take custody of the suspect, adding that he does not know why Usman decided to kill Ogidi who was already tied up and begging not to be killed, adding that Usman might face murder charges in court.
One would wonder why a suspect who is not a threat to you, a suspect who is already tied to his back, a suspect who was begging for his life, you tried to shoot him the first time it didn’t work, you removed your magazine, arranged it again and shoot him for the second time.
“It is not explainable or pardonable and I want members of the public to know that the police does not cover officers like that. I am very sure that guy will have his day in court and will face murder charges,” he said.
Also, reacting to the killing, a coalition of human rights organisations in Ogun State condemned the extrajudicial killing of a suspect by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State.
In a statement issued on Thursday, April 30, 2026, the groups described the incident as a “gruesome violation” of constitutional rights of Nigerians and demanded swift action by relevant authorities.
The coalition alleged that eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports indicated that the victim was arrested, tortured and executed without trial.
According to the statement, the act contravenes Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right to life, as well as Section 36 (5), which presumes every individual innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
The groups also maintained that such actions undermine the rule of law and erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions, just as they expressed concern that incidents of killings in police custody have become recurrent, despite reforms that were promised after the #EndSARS protests.
The coalition insisted that the police must not act as “accuser, judge and executioner,” stressing that due process remains fundamental to justice.
The groups also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to ensure the immediate arrest, dismissal and prosecution of officers allegedly involved in the incident.
They also urged the police leadership to make public the identities of those implicated and to investigate the unit concerned.
The coalition appealed to the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to set up an independent judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the case and similar allegations in the state.
They further called on the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Delta State Attorney-General to ensure prompt and transparent prosecution of the suspects.
The groups also tasked the Police Service Commission to take disciplinary action against any officer found culpable.
While expressing their condolences to the victim’s family, pledging support in their pursuit of justice and accountability, they urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to carry out an independent investigation and monitor the prosecution process. They also requested adequate compensation for the family in line with provisions of the Anti-Torture Act 2017.
The statement was jointly signed by Bankole Solomon, Oluwayemisi Brown and Wasinuola John.
The groups warned that they would escalate the matter to international bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions, if justice is not served.
In his intervention, media aide to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, demanded further investigation into the incident, including scrutiny of the officers’ mobile phones.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, involved Usman, who shot a suspect dead in broad daylight. The development has since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and public debate.
Some Nigerians who reacted to the incident expressed reservations over Usman’s conduct, arguing that the way and manner in which Usman acted swiftly in summarily executing the alleged suspect elicited suspicion that he (Usman) and the other officers who were on duty on the day of the incident knew something that they are not telling members of the public.
“They should be thoroughly questioned to unravel the truth about the matter and the culpable officers made to face the full weight of the law, because what happened goes beyond the ordinary,” they said.
In response to the public outcry against the incident, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday recommended the outright dismissal and prosecution of the indicted officers to the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Reacting via his X handle on Thursday, Olayinka shared an image of the officers and supported the move for their dismissal and trial, but insisted that further steps should be taken to uncover the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“All of them dismissed and are to be tried for murder. But I think their phones should be checked,” he wrote. He suggested that there may have been external influence leading to the incident, adding, “I am sure that one of them must have received a call from someone before that dastardly act was done.”
The killing has continued to dominate public discourse, with many Nigerians demanding accountability and transparency from the police authorities.
While investigations are ongoing, analysts say Olayinka’s comments reflect growing concerns over possible abuse of power and the need to thoroughly examine all factors, including communication records, that may have contributed to the fatal encounter.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the specific call for phone checks, but the case remains under intense public scrutiny as authorities move to ensure justice is served.
On his part, a Nigerian human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, said Usman who killed Ogidi has been known to engage in such acts sine he was posted to Delta, adding that his activities, which attracted wide criticism had led to several warnings to the officer.
Speaking in an interview Gwamnishu said ASP Usman’s mother died recently and her body was still in the mortuary and that Usman is her mother’s only child
Gwamnishu said some policemen informed him that they had previously warned Usman that his unprofessional conduct could lead him into serious trouble if he did not change. He said many people in Delta State are aware of Usman’s unprofessional conduct
“His mother is in currently in the mortuary, he is the only child of the mother. So, they have been warning him that sooner or later he will meet his waterloo and that is what has happened now, because obviously, he refused to listen to advice,” he stated.
