The Delta State Police Command has arrested and detained a police officer who was captured on video shooting at the tyre of a moving vehicle in front of Toscana Hotel along Okpanam Road, Asaba.
The viral video, which surfaced on Tuesday night, showed the officer firing towards a car as the driver attempted to drive away, sparking widespread outrage on social media. Many residents and commentators described the act as reckless and a clear violation of police rules on firearm use in public spaces.
Reacting to the incident, the command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, condemned the officer’s behaviour, calling it “embarrassing, shameful, careless, unprofessional, and unjustified.”
He said: “In all honesty, this is embarrassing, shameful, careless, so unprofessional and not justified at all. The policeman has been identified, detained, and will appear before the Commissioner of Police today.”
Edafe added that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Abaniwonda, had ordered internal disciplinary action against the officer, who has since been taken into custody and queried.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that the officer was responding to a reported hit-and-run case, but he emphasised that no policeman is permitted to use a firearm without clear justification, as stated in Force Order 237.
“The Commissioner of Police assures members of the public that the officer concerned will be dealt with in accordance with extant laws as stipulated in the Police Act and regulations, to serve as a deterrent to others,” Edafe said.