Police arrest policemen that ran over handcuffed man with police van

The Edo State Police Command has arrested members of a Police team that ran over a handcuffed middle-aged man with their official vehicle in Ekpoma, Edo State on Thursday evening.

SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Spokesman of the State Command, in a press statement, said the incident happened after the policemen had arrested the man, who had earlier refused to oblige the request of the Police operatives to see the particulars of the vehicle he was driving but attacked the policemen, inflicting injuries on them, and destroying the police vehicle.

“Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it is aware of the trending video in social media that shows some police officers with a Sienna vehicle used for police patrol that ran over a young man who was handcuffed.

“The facts of the incident as gathered preliminarily indicate that on 29/06/2023 at about 17:00hrs, ASP Magdalene Osayande reported at Ekpoma Divisional Police Headquarters, Ekpoma, Edo State that while on routine stop and search duty with her team of six policemen along Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma, Edo State, intercepted a driver of unregistered Lexus car and demanded the vehicle particulars.”

“Along the line, he became aggressive and refused to oblige the request of the Police operatives, but rather attacked them, inflicted injuries on them, and destroyed the police vehicle.

“However, he was arrested, handcuffed, and identified as one Success Ehimare before the incident that is currently trending in social media occurred. He was later taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital for treatment, and he is in good health condition.

“In light of the above, CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara has condemned the action of the policemen that he saw in the trending video, and he described their action as barbaric, inhumane, and unprofessional.

“He therefore gave a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma to identify, arrest, and bring to the State Police Headquarters Benin for brief and debrief. The officers have been arrested, and they are with the State Criminal Investigation Department,” the statement said.

A video of the incident circulated online on Friday morning generating negative reactions.

In the video, while some people engaged the policemen in a discussion, the driver of the police van drove away in a panic running over the man and dragging him along the road for a few metres.