Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a police officer for unlawfully discharging tear‑gas at Ogida, Benin City, in an incident that claimed the life of a yet‑to‑be‑identified citizen. The arrest was confirmed on Monday, 1 June 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who said the officer was immediately taken into custody and subjected to both disciplinary and criminal procedures in line with extant laws.
“It would be recalled that on 25th May, 2026, a Police Officer attached to the Command unlawfully discharged tear‑gas at Ogida, Benin City, an incident which unfortunately led to the loss of a life,” Ikoedem said in a statement. The officer’s name has not been released by the command, and an investigation into the circumstances of the death is ongoing.
The arrest came on the same day the command paraded three bouncers and a supplier of pepper spray linked to a separate incident during the Children’s Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on 27 May. However, the police spokesperson clarified that the fatal tear‑gas discharge was a distinct case that occurred two days before the stadium chaos.
In her statement, Ikoedem expressed the command’s “grave concern” over the increasing proliferation of restricted security accoutrements such as pepper spray and tear‑gas canisters among private individuals, bouncers and unauthorised security outfits. She warned that the unauthorised use of such devices is viewed as an assault capable of causing grievous harm or death, and that unlawful possession of these items with intent to commit a felony is criminal under the law.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, reassured residents that the command remains committed to protecting citizens’ rights and will not tolerate any act that threatens public peace and safety. He directed individuals and groups in possession of unauthorised security equipment to surrender them immediately or face arrest and prosecution.
The identity of the deceased has not been released, and no further details about the victim or the exact circumstances of the tear‑gas discharge have been made public as of the time of this report. The police have vowed to ensure that the officer faces the full weight of the law if found culpable.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News
🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew
📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments