Human rights organisation Amnesty International has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the Nigeria Police Force to urgently identify and prosecute officers allegedly involved in the killing of an unarmed suspect in Delta State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group strongly condemned the incident, which reportedly occurred at the Effurun Area Command in Effurun, describing it as a grave violation of human rights.
Amnesty questioned the conduct of the officers, asking pointedly, “When did the police become the jury, judge and executioner?”
It insisted that those responsible must be brought to justice, stressing that the act amounts to culpable murder under Nigerian law.
“Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Effurun Area Command have openly killed an unarmed suspect. The personnel should be identified and must be charged to court for culpable murder,” the statement read.
The organisation also called for transparency in the investigation, tagging key police accountability channels, including the Complaint Response Unit, to ensure swift and impartial action.
The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, involved operatives attached to the Effurun Area Command who allegedly shot a yet-to-be-identified young man in broad daylight despite his hands being tied behind his back.
A disturbing video of the killing, shared on social media, shows the victim pleading for his life and offering to cooperate with the officers. “Officer, I beg, I will tell you everything. It was my friend that deceived me,” he was heard saying.
Despite his repeated pleas, one of the officers reportedly shot him in the leg at close range. The victim, writhing in pain, continued to beg, insisting on his innocence and offering to assist the officers.
Eyewitnesses said the officers ignored his cries. Moments later, he was shot again at close range while still restrained and defenceless, leading to his death.
The killing has intensified public concerns over police brutality and the use of excessive force, with rights advocates warning that failure to ensure accountability could further erode public trust in law enforcement.
