The Delta State Police Command said it has detained officers who shot a vigilante leader in Idjerhe kingdom, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who stated this in a statement on Saturday in Asaba, the state capital, condemned the act by the officers.

He said, “The command is aware of a publication making rounds in some sections of the media of an alleged shooting by policemen at Idjerhe kingdom in Ethiope West LGA.

“The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, to commence a full-scale investigation into the incident, and the officers involved have been identified and detained, while an internal disciplinary action has been initiated.

“The CP wishes to reiterate that it’s not in the character of the command to trample on the rights of citizens, assault, or use their rifles without recourse to Force Order 237.”

The CP assured members of the public that the officers concerned would be decisively dealt with, following the extant laws as stipulated in the Police Act and regulations. To serve as a deterrent to others.

The police boss noted that such conduct by officers of the command would not be tolerated under his watch.

He has, therefore, tasked officers and men to uphold the tenets of professional policing in the discharge of their duties concerning the rights of all citizens in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) while hoping that the actions taken on the erring officers will serve as a deterrent to others.

He appealed to members of the public, particularly indigenes of Idjerhe Kingdom, and the families of the injured vigilantes who are currently receiving treatment to remain calm, and assured them of justice.

On Thursday, the state police command arrested a suspected armed robber during a stop-and-search operation.

The operatives recovered one locally made gun and two live cartridges from the suspected armed robber, according to CP Olufemi. (Saturday PUNCH)

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