CITIZENS COMPASS— The Delta State Police Command on Friday, addressed the alleged shooting of a civilian in Oviore, Orerokpe area of the State.
This followed a viral video about the incident.
Spokesperson for the Command, Bright Edafe, shed more light about the incident in a statement.
According to him: The Delta State Police Command wishes to address a misleading video currently circulating on social media alleging that police operatives discharged live ammunition and shot a civilian in Oviore, Orerokpe. The Command categorically states that this claim is false and misleading, as no live ammunition was fired.
On 30 April 2026 at about 1900 hours, a surveillance patrol team from Orerokpe Division, while on routine patrol within Okuodjedjere Community, attempted to apprehend a suspected drug user. The officers encountered resistance from some youths in the area, creating a tense situation. In a bid to safely disengage and prevent escalation, the officers deployed smoke canisters “TEAR GAS”, strictly as a crowd control measure. No live ammunition was discharged at any time during the incident.
Regrettably, during the process, one of the smoke canisters struck a civilian on the leg, resulting in injury. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he is currently receiving prompt medical attention.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, psc, acipm, mnips, reiterates the command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the protection of human rights. While the use of non-lethal crowd control measures is permitted under clearly defined guidelines, any misuse or deviation from established procedures will be dealt with decisively. Members of the public are urged to disregard the false narrative being circulated and to rely on verified information from official police channels.
In a related development, the Command busted criminal hideouts in the State.
The spokesperson said: On 27 April 2026 at about 1130 hours, operatives of Safe Delta, Operation Delta Sweep, and Operation Delta Shield, acting on the directive of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, stormed a notorious black spot known as Best Lodge in Oko Community. The operation resulted in the arrest of fourteen (14) suspects, comprising thirteen males and one female. Recovered items include one locally made cut-to-size pistol, three live cartridges, two bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, four daggers, one cutlass, several mobile phones, and a cash sum of ₦133,100. Investigation is ongoing.
In a related development at about 1400 hrs on 27/4/2026, operatives of Operation Delta Shield, while on stop-and-search duty along Kingsley Street, intercepted one Chidebere Irunkwor (male, 26 years). A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of a locally made cut-to-size pistol, two live cartridges, and the sum of 10 Euros. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of the Eiye Confraternity. The suspect is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
The CP reiterates the command’s resolve to sustain pressure on criminal elements through proactive policing and intelligence-led operations. He calls on members of the public to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information, assuring that all information received will be treated with strict confidentiality.
