The university town of Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State was thrown into turmoil on Thursday evening when a police van ran over a suspect who had been arrested, handcuffed, and made to lie half-clad.

A team of policemen, using an official black Sienna bus provided by the Edo State Government, forcefully dragged the already handcuffed middle-aged man despite the alarm raised by members of the community who had gathered around the van.

A 27-minute video of the incident captured the moment the driver of the police van opened the van door and fled after dragging the immobilized suspect for several meters.

The video, which went viral on Friday morning, showed onlookers gathering around the handcuffed man lying on the ground in front of the police vehicle. The driver then proceeded to crush and drag the man for over 100 meters while ignoring the shouts from the crowd.

The incident reportedly caused uproar among the irate crowd, which was quickly dispersed by gunshots from the policemen.

In response to the incident, the Edo State Police Command’s spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, issued a press statement confirming that the involved policemen had been arrested. He also stated that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, had called for calm.

The statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) reads in part:

“The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it is aware of the trending video on social media showing some police officers in a Sienna vehicle used for police patrol running over a young man who was handcuffed.

“Preliminary findings indicate 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, they intercepted the driver of an unregistered Lexus car and requested the vehicle’s particulars.

“However, the driver of the Lexus car became aggressive, refused to comply with the request of the police operatives, and instead attacked them, inflicting injuries and damaging the police vehicle.

“The suspect, identified as Success Ehimare, was subsequently arrested, handcuffed, and taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital for treatment. He is reported to be in good health condition.

“In response to the video that has gone viral, CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara has condemned the action of the policeman seen in the footage, describing it as barbaric, inhumane, and unprofessional.

“The Commissioner of Police has given a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ekpoma to identify, arrest, and bring the officers to the State Police Headquarters in Benin for briefing and debriefing. The officers have since been arrested and are currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department,” the statement added. (Nigerian Tribune)

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