SOJA demands prosecution over Police killing of suspect in Delta

A civil society organisation, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/Gte (SOJA), has condemned the killing of a handcuffed suspect by a police officer in Effurun, Delta State, describing the incident as a grave violation of the rule of law and a troubling instance of extrajudicial execution that underscores persistent concerns about the use of force by law enforcement in Nigeria.

The organisation’s reaction followed the circulation of a viral video showing a restrained man, identified as Mene Ogidi, being shot at close range while in police custody on April 26. In a statement issued on Wednesday, SOJA expressed deep concern, sorrow, and outrage, noting that the victim’s hands were tied behind his back and that he posed no threat at the time he was killed, despite reportedly pleading for his life.

“This is not policing—it is a breakdown of lawful authority,” the group said, arguing that the act represents a direct assault on constitutional guarantees and Nigeria’s binding human rights obligations. While acknowledging that the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the incident and announced the arrest and transfer of the officer involved alongside the commencement of internal disciplinary proceedings, SOJA maintained that such steps, though necessary, fall short of what is required in a case of this magnitude.

According to the organisation, the execution of a restrained suspect without due process constitutes a clear breach of Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right to life, as well as Section 34(1), which protects the dignity of the human person. It stressed that no individual, regardless of suspicion or allegation, forfeits the fundamental rights to life, fair hearing, and due process under the law, warning that any deviation from these principles weakens the justice system and undermines public confidence in state institutions.

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SOJA further situated the incident within the framework of international human rights law, noting that Nigeria is bound by global and regional instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, all of which prohibit the arbitrary deprivation of life. It added that these obligations impose a duty on the state not only to prevent such violations by its agents but also to ensure accountability through credible investigations, prosecution of offenders, and systemic reforms to prevent recurrence.

The organisation therefore called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government, and relevant judicial and oversight authorities to go beyond internal disciplinary measures by ensuring a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident, followed by the prosecution of the officer and any accomplices in a competent court of law in line with due process. It also urged that the outcome of such proceedings be made public to reinforce accountability and restore public trust, while calling for stricter enforcement of rules governing the use of force, alongside improved human rights training, supervision, and monitoring within the police.

Beyond accountability, SOJA emphasised the need for justice and adequate support for the family of the deceased, noting that responsibility in such cases extends beyond individual culpability to include institutional oversight where lapses occur. It warned that continued incidents of extrajudicial killings risk entrenching a culture of impunity within security agencies, eroding public trust, weakening institutions, and undermining the very essence of law enforcement in a democratic society.

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Reaffirming its position, the organisation stressed that the sanctity of human life must remain the foundation of justice and governance, insisting that Nigeria must continue to build a system where authority is exercised strictly within the bounds of the law and where accountability is not only pursued but clearly seen to be done.