The Delta State Government has released a firm warning to the public against attacking security agents following a viral video of a clash between civilians and the “Operation Delta Sweep” task force.
The video, which surfaced on Monday, shows a confrontation where civilians accused officers of theft and oppression, fueled by a recent extrajudicial killing in the state.
In the clip shared on X, the person recording was heard yelling at an officer, “Give him his phone! This is stealing. This is oppression. That is how you killed an innocent civilian a few days ago. These are oppressors.”
Another man was seen grabbing the officer’s shirt and dragging him during a long struggle, even as other security personnel tried to step in.
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On Tuesday, David Tonwe, the Director General of Security Matters and Coordinator of Operation Sweep, issued a formal notice clarifying that the officer was an NSCDC member on official duty, not a policeman.
While he acknowledged the public’s pain over the death of Oghenemine Ogidi in Effurun, he insisted that anger does not justify physical violence against state agents.
The official statement noted, “The Office of the Director General Security Matters is not unaware of the current tension… following the unfortunate incident involving the death of Mr. Oghenemine Ogidi.”
It continued, “However, it has become necessary to address a disturbing trend. No citizen is permitted to take the law into their own hands, insult, or assault officers discharging their lawful duties.”
Tonwe explained that the officer was on routine patrol when he was “accosted” and “unruly questioned” before the assault took place.
The government declared a zero-tolerance policy, warning that disrespecting or obstructing law enforcement is a crime that will face the “full weight of the law.”
The notice also cautioned that mob action is banned because “two wrongs do not make a right.”
Citizens were urged to use official channels for complaints about brutality and to remain calm while the investigation into Ogidi’s death continues, stressing that attacking officers “endangers the entire community.”
See video below:
