SOJA calls for 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 serious violation of the rule of law and a worrying case of extrajudicial killing that highlights persistent concerns over the use of force by law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

The organisation’s reaction followed the release of a viral video showing an immobilized man, identified as Mene Ogidi, being shot at close range while in police custody on 26 April. In a statement released on Wednesday, SOJA expressed deep concern, grief and outrage, stressing that the victim had her hands tied behind her back and posed no threat at the time she was killed, despite begging for her life.

“This is not about policing, but about a collapse of legal authority,” the group said, arguing that the act represents a direct attack on Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees and binding human rights obligations. While acknowledging that the Nigerian Police Force confirmed the incident and announced the arrest and transfer of the officer involved along with the initiation of internal disciplinary proceedings, SOJA argued that such measures, while necessary, fall short of what is required in a case of this magnitude.

According to the organization, the execution of a kidnapped suspect without due process constitutes a clear violation of Article 33, paragraph 1, of the 1999 Constitution (and subsequent amendments), which guarantees the right to life, as well as Article 34, paragraph 1, which protects the dignity of the human person. He stressed that no individual, regardless of suspicion or accusation, renounces fundamental rights to life, fair and just trial under the law, warning that any deviation from these principles weakens the justice system and undermines public confidence in state institutions.

SOJA also placed 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, which prohibit arbitrary deprivation of life. He added that these obligations require the State not only to prevent such violations by its agents, but also to ensure accountability through credible investigations, prosecution of violators, and systemic reforms to prevent recurrence.

The organization therefore called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government and relevant judicial and enforcement 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 in line with due process. It also urged that the outcome of such proceedings be made public to strengthen accountability and restore public trust, while calling for stricter enforcement of rules governing the use of force, along with improved human rights training, supervision and monitoring within the police.

Beyond accountability, SOJA emphasized the need for justice and adequate support for the family of the deceased, stressing that accountability in these cases extends beyond individual culpability to include institutional oversight where errors occur. He 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 organization 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 as such.

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