By Austin Ogwuda
… innocent victims including worshippers returning from the New year vigil narrate ordeal
… DSS operative slapped, detained too
Fresh facts have emerged regarding the mass arrest carried out by men of the Delta State Police command on New Year Eve in Asaba, Delta State capital.
Investigation has shown that several of those 43 persons arrested were believed to be innocent as they were either on their way to crossover night church service or returning home when they were grabbed and thrown into Police detention.
*FRSC staff released on bail on self recognition speaks
One of the victims, a staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who was granted bail on self-recognition narrated his ordeal in an interview with SaharaReporters.
The officer on the condition of anonymity, said, “You see, corruption can never be eradicated from the Nigeria Police Force, no way. Because of bribery and corruption, these men in uniform went round town, arresting innocent worshippers going to and returning from crossover night church services in Asaba. They took them to the Police Headquarters, where it became easy to extort money from people in the name of bail.
“I was released only because I am a staff member of the Federal Road Safety Corps. But do you know they refused to release two of my friends who were arrested with me during the crossover night?
“Many of those eventually released were forced to pay between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 each for bail, right inside the Asaba Police Command. What kind of country is this, for Christ’s sake? In your own country, the police are supposed to protect you, but they are now the ones tormenting us”.
“How do you arrest innocent worshippers, label them hoodlums, and then fail to charge them to court, yet extort ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 from them for bail? Painfully, these officers operate hand in hand with top-ranking officials”, he told SaharaReporters.
*Woman returning from church brutalized, lost a tooth
Mrs Blessing Ezeigbo said that while she, her brother and her two children were returning from a crossover night church service, police officers fired tear gas at Inter-Bau Roundabout.
*Mrs Blessing Ezeigbo, displaying her lost tooth
As she and her brother searched for the two children, the police allegedly grabbed her brother and assaulted him. When she asked what offence he had committed, the officers reportedly turned on her, assaulted her, broke one of her teeth and arrested her brother, Michael Ezeigbo.
DSS operative too
An operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Okpah Ikemefune, according to Guardian was said to have visited the Eagle Net unit of the command to seek the bail of his tenant, one of those arrested.
“Multiple accounts claimed that Ikemefune was slapped by a police officer during a confrontation and briefly detained before being released.
“Sources within the command described the incident as unprecedented and embarrassing due to its inter-agency implications”, according to Guardian report.
*Fire Service officer re-arrested for leaking the information on extortion to the Media
Latest information, according to SaharaReporters said that “one of the released suspects and staff of the Delta State Fire Service, named Benjamin Eboka, was tricked on Monday to come and collect his impounded vehicle at the command where he was accused of exposing the bail extortion to the media.
“As Ben got to the command Monday, he was rearrested and detained that he was the one who allegedly exposed the N150,000 and N200,000 extorted from the suspects to grant them bail. Even when Ben defended himself, that he knows nothing about such publication, the police rearrested him and detained him in cell. As we talk, he’s still at the detention at the police headquarters.
“On that New Year’s Eve crossover night, Benjamin Eboka was randomly arrested alongside his two friends, Godspower Udoh and Michael Onochie while driving to a crossover night church service at Direct Labour Agency (DLA) Road in Asaba. Ben did not talk to any journalist concerning his arrest.
“It’s possible friends and relatives of his friends that were arrested with him may have exposed the police extortion. We are calling on the new Commissioner of Police to release Benjamin Eboka unconditionally. I am not just happy with the manner police extort, intimidate and frame innocent citizens up all because of money,” our source lamented.
As of the time of filing this report, Eboka has not been released from detention”, reports SaharaReporters.
What led to the mass arrest
Spokesman of the Delta State Police command, Bright Edafe, a Superintendent of Police (SP) had on the 1st of January this year issued a press release.
It reads:
“The Delta State Police Command has decisively quelled violent disturbances orchestrated by hoodlums and criminal elements who attempted to hijack the New Year Eve celebrations in parts of Asaba metropolis.
”At about 12.00am on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Command operatives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations engaged in a robust township patrol comprising Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Commanders and their men to guarantee the safety of law-abiding residents and commuters during the festivities.
“During the operation, miscreants, touts and hoodlums, emboldened by the large crowd during the celebrations, engaged in acts of lawlessness by blocking major roads, illegal car races, reckless and dangerous driving, knocking down some commuters in the milieu, throwing fireworks at innocent members of the public and causing widespread public disturbance.
“The situation degenerated further as these hoodlums resorted to violent attacks on police patrol teams, hurling stones and other dangerous projectiles, while also burning tyres at key junctions, thereby deliberately obstructing free and safe movement, especially for worshippers returning from New Year church services.
”The Police, acting swiftly and professionally, deployed lawful crowd control measures to disperse the violent mob, restore order and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
”As a result of the operation, forty-three (43) suspects were arrested. Items recovered from them include twenty-five (25) motor vehicles, eight (8) tricycles, fireworks, various hard drugs, and other dangerous offensive weapons. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement, after which they will be charged to court accordingly”.
New Delta CP on extortion
The new Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Aina Adesola, while resuming duty as the 23rd Commissioner of Police in Delta State on Monday, in his inaugural address warned against extortion.
Hear him:
“To the officers and men of the Delta State Police Command, I assure you of purposeful leadership and fair command. I expect discipline, professionalism, loyalty to duty, and respect for the uniform at all times. Acts of incivility, abuse of office, extortion, or violation of human rights will not be tolerated under my leadership.
*The new Commissioner of Police in Delta State delivering his inaugural address
Credit: SaharaReporters and Guardian
