Delta Police Investigate Alleged Assault on Student Union President

The Delta State Police Command has launched an investigation after a video emerged showing officers allegedly assaulting and threatening the Student Union Government (SUG) President of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Eruru Christian.

According to footage shared on social media, the SUG president claims that police officers demanded a N500 settlement from him. Christian, who refused to comply, said he was slapped and threatened with a gun by one of the officers.

In the video, he can be heard saying: “You slapped me because I refused to settle you. You will see what you have never seen in your life before. Ogwashi-Uku divisional police slapped me, SUG president because I refused to settle them in my vehicle… because I refused to give him N500.”

The video also shows one of the officers stepping out of their vehicle and firing a shot into the air as Christian films the confrontation.

Christian condemns the officers, calling them “criminals” and “thieves.”

In a statement on Monday, the police command’s spokesperson, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed that an investigation into the incident had been launched. He added that the officer accused of assaulting Christian had been detained. Edafe noted that both the demand for a N500 bribe and the claim of physical assault were being thoroughly examined.

However, Bright also criticized Christian for referring to the officers as “criminals,” noting that the police were deployed to the area due to concerns over kidnapping. He warned that such hostility towards law enforcement was inappropriate.

“We should not encourage the behaviour of the SUG president being so hostile to policemen deployed because of the kidnapping complaints in that area,” Bright said. “Calling policemen on their lawful duty criminals and thieves is wrong.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.