Senator Ede Dafinone has appealed for calm following widespread anger over the killing of Mena Ogidi, after holding a high-level meeting with senior police officials in Warri.
The meeting, held on Wednesday at the Nigeria Police Area Command, included the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Salman-Dogo Garba, and the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi. Family members of the deceased were also present, led by his brother, Victory Ogidi, and cousin, Emuobor Alex.
The discussions followed the alleged extra-judicial killing of Mena Ogidi by ASP Nuhu Usman, an officer attached to the police command in Effurun.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Dafinone acknowledged the public’s anger but urged restraint, stressing the need to allow due process to take its course. He noted that the Inspector-General of Police had demonstrated commitment to the case by deploying the AIG to personally oversee the situation in Delta State.
According to the senator, police authorities have assured the bereaved family that justice will be served. He described the incident as both tragic and unacceptable, condemning the reckless use of a firearm against a restrained civilian.
While expressing sympathy to the victim’s family, Dafinone cautioned against generalizing the actions of one officer to the entire police force. He emphasized that the incident appeared to involve an individual acting outside professional standards.
He also warned against politicizing the tragedy or using it for personal gain, urging that the focus remain on justice for the victim and support for the grieving family.
In his remarks, AIG Garba stated that his presence in Delta was on the direct orders of the Inspector-General of Police, who he said was displeased with the incident and demanded swift action. He reassured the family and the public that the case would be thoroughly investigated and not ignored.
Garba further noted that Senator Dafinone’s intervention came at a critical time, helping to ease tensions and reinforce confidence among stakeholders.
The killing of Mena Ogidi has sparked significant outrage across Delta State and beyond, with growing calls for accountability and reforms in police conduct nationwide.
