The Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command, has responded to a viral video showing soldiers, policemen in a physical altercation at a roadblock near the Air Force base in Delta State.
In the footage, officers from both security agencies were seen exchanging blows on a busy road, causing a disruption to traffic flow.
At one point, a police officer attempting to flee was forcefully pulled back by soldiers toward the Air Force installation.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the altercation on his X platform on Wednesday.
He explained that policemen attached to the Quick Response Squad (QRS) had apprehended a suspect in possession of substances suspected to be codeine, Indian hemp, and Canadian Loud.
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However, Air Force personnel, who were reportedly acquainted with the suspect, intervened and demanded his release. When the policemen refused, the soldiers allegedly attacked them without provocation.
He wrote, “The Policemen attached to QRS were on their way with a suspect found in possession of substances suspected to be codeine, Indian Hemp, canadian loud.
”But the personnel of the Airforce who happen to know the suspect intercepted and insisted that the policemen must release them before proceeding hence they attacked the policemen unprovoked.”
SP Edafe assured the public that the matter is being addressed, emphasising the strong working relationship between the Delta State Police Command and the Nigerian Air Force.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, alongside Air Force authorities, is taking steps to prevent such incidents from recurring.
“This issue is being attended. We recognised the cordial relationship we have the the Nigeria Airforce in Delta State, the Delta state Police command under the leadership of CP Olufemi Abaniwonda and the Airforce authorities are looking into this incident and setting up modalities to ensure that this shameful incident does not repeat itself again,” he added.
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