The team of policemen with their patrol vehicle who ran over a handcuffed middle-aged-man that was earlier ordered to lie down by the policemen in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the Edo state have all been apprehended by the police authorities in Edo.
A trending video that surfaced on Friday morning showed people gathered, apparently watching the handcuffed man on the floor in front of the police vehicle, before the driver moved, crushing and dragging him on the ground for over 100 meters, while ignoring shouts from the crowd.
Reacting, Spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor in a statement, Friday, said the policemen have been arrested on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, and are presently detained by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
The Statement read, “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it’s aware of the trending video on social media that shows some Police officers with a Sienna Vehicle used for Police patrol that ran over a young man who was handcuffed.
“The facts of the incident as gathered preliminarily indicates that on 29/06/2023 at about 1700hrs, ASP Magdalene Osayande reported at Ekpoma Divisional Police Headquarters, Ekpoma, Edo State that while on routine stop and search duty with her team of six (6) policemen along Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma, Edo State, intercepted a driver of unregistered Lexus car and demanded for the vehicle particulars.
“Aalong the line, he became aggressive and refused to oblige the request of the Police operatives, but rather attacked them, inflicted injuries on them, and destroyed Police vehicle.
“However, he was arrested, handcuffed, and identified as one Success Ehimare before the incident that is currently trending on social media occurred. He was later taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital for treatment, and he is in good health condition.
“In light of the above, CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara has condemned the action of the policeman seen in the trending video, and he described it as barbaric, inhumane and unprofessional.
“He, therefore gave a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ekpoma to identify, arrest, and bring to the State Police Headquarters Benin for brief and debrief. The officers had so been arrested, and they are with the State Criminal Investigation Department.”