The two suspects who were arrested by the Delta State Police Command after appearing in a viral video smoking what is suspected to be marijuana while sitting on a police patrol van and making obscene gestures at law enforcement officers, have been charged with cyberbullying and cyberstalking.

This was made known in a statement shared by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

The suspects, Patrick Junior Asini, 34, and Tega Ojo, 20, were arraigned before the Oghara High Court on a three-count charge bordering on cyberbullying and cyberstalking, contrary to Sections 24 and 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, among other charges.

They have since been remanded at the Sapele Custodial Centre.

The statement said, “The two suspects have been charged to the Oghara High Court and presently remanded at Sapele prisons on a three-count charge of count 1-Cyberbullying, Cyber Stalking contrary to sections 24&27 of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act amongst other charges.”

The suspects were arrested after a video surfaced online showing them smoking what appeared to be cannabis while seated on a police patrol van marked “Nigeria Police Force Anti-crime Patrol, Oghara Division.”

In the video, originally shared by user #dammiedammie35, one of the young men was seen sitting on a police patrol van bearing the inscription “Nigeria Police Force Anti-crime Patrol, Oghara Division,” while smoking.

Another voice in the background was heard saying, “Tell them, f*** the cops, bro. Pass me some weed, man,” while flashing his middle finger towards an officer in the distance.

The video, believed to have been recorded at a car wash, triggered outrage among users on the social media platform X and drew the attention of the police. (The PUNCH)