Extrajudicial killing: Amnesty decries brutality, seeks public trial of officer

Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to ensure a prompt and transparent investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing of a 28-year-old man, Mene Ogidi, by a police officer in Effurun, Delta State. Via a communiqué on Wednesday, the organisation criticised the incident, describing it as a violation of the right to life and a reflection of ongoing concerns about police accountability in Nigeria.

 “The Nigerian authorities must ensure that the extrajudicial execution of Mene Ogidi on 26 April 2026 in Effurun, Delta State, involving an officer of the Nigeria Police identified as ASP Nuhu Usman is promptly, thoroughly, and transparently investigated,” Amnesty International said. It added that “it is horrifying that an unarmed young man who clearly posed no threat to anyone was gunned down at close range, in utter disdain for the right to life,” insisting that such killings “cannot be justified under any circumstances whatsoever.

” The group also demanded that the outcome of the investigation be made public and called on authorities to align law enforcement practices with international human rights standards, stressing that lethal force should only be used as a last resort.

The incident, which occurred on April 26, followed a police operation in Effurun where Ogidi was apprehended over a parcel suspected to contain a firearm. As noted by the Delta State Police Command, the suspect was taken into custody while attempting to waybill a package believed to contain a Beretta pistol and ammunition.

However, the police said the officer leading the operation, ASP Nuhu Usman, acted in violation of Force Order 237 and the Nigeria Police Force’s standard operating procedures when he discharged his firearm, leading to the suspect’s death. The command has since initiated internal disciplinary processes, confirming that the officer has been arrested and transferred to Abuja for further investigation.

The Nigeria Police Force has also noted that it will not tolerate extrajudicial actions by its personnel and has assured that due process will be followed in handling the case. Amnesty International warned that the incident underscores what it described as a “gradual return to the dark and horrible recent past of widespread police brutality,” urging authorities to take decisive steps to end unlawful killings and restore public confidence in law enforcement.