A Nigerian woman has taken to social media to lament the death of her brother, who was allegedly shot dead by a police officer at a checkpoint in Ekpoma, Edo State. The deadly shooting occurred shortly after he acquired a new car, and his family members are in a state of shock.
In an emotional video shared on X (formerly Twitter), the sister of the deceased accused the police of unnecessarily killing her brother. In tears, she asked what the role of the police was in society.
“Are the police here to protect us or kill us?” she asked.
The young man and his companions were traveling through Ekpoma when they were intercepted at a police checkpoint where a stop-and-search exercise was taking place. There was reportedly a disagreement between the officers and the occupants.
“The police stopped them, and during the argument, one of the officers shot one of his friends in the leg,” an early report stated.
Shocked at how quickly the situation went from bad to worse, the victim allegedly questioned the officer’s action. In response, the policeman allegedly shot him again—this time in the stomach, killing him instantly.
Insult was added to injury when the hospital he was taken to allegedly refused his parents access to see his body, citing that the police had not given authority to do so. The horrific story has sparked outrage online, and people are calling for justice for the victim, who has been identified as Chinedu.
The police have been berated on social media, and their actions have been condemned.
- @NnamdiUdensi: “The Nigerian police are not your friends. Take care when you encounter them, especially when they have their AK-47s.”
- @CHIBUZOR20_: “For how long shall we live like this? The government does not care, and police still continue to instill fear in citizens instead of protecting them.”
- @CollinsAus91104: “The Nigerian police force requires serious proper training. They handle things like people who don’t have a sense of reasoning.”
- @brown_eze: “One thing is for sure—Nigerian police officers are short of training and mental strength. May his soul rest in peace.”
