The Edo State Police Command has ordered an investigation into a confrontation involving personnel of the Intelligence Response Team and the Edo State Traffic Management Agency, after a video of the incident surfaced online.
The command also directed that the conduct of an Intelligence Response Team officer seen firing his rifle into the air during the confrontation be subjected to disciplinary review.
The incident attracted attention on Thursday following the circulation of a video on X showing the officers involved in the altercation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, had met with representatives of both agencies and ordered a discreet investigation to establish what led to the confrontation.
“The Commissioner of Police has also directed that the conduct of the officer seen firing the rifle be subjected to appropriate disciplinary review,” the statement said.
The command said it would not tolerate indiscipline, unprofessional conduct or abuse of police powers by its personnel, stressing that anyone found culpable after the investigation would face appropriate sanctions.
The statement added, “The command does not, and will not, condone any act of indiscipline, unprofessional conduct or abuse of police powers by any of its personnel.”
It further stated, “Any officer, irrespective of the agency, found culpable after due investigation will be appropriately sanctioned in line with extant laws and regulations.”
The police emphasised the importance of maintaining professional relations among security and government agencies, saying effective public safety depended on cooperation and mutual respect.
According to the command, it places “a high premium on inter-agency collaboration and mutual respect among security and government agencies.”
“The incident is therefore being treated with the seriousness it deserves, without prejudice to the established working relationship between the Edo State Police Command and EDSTMA,” it said.
The command also appealed to members of the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands and urged anyone with complaints about police misconduct to use the established channels, including its Complaint Response Unit.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine whether any of the personnel involved breached applicable laws, regulations or professional standards.
