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Abuja, FCT – By Prime Brief Media

The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has raised fresh concern over what it describes as a surge in extrajudicial killings by security operatives, warning that Nigeria is sliding into a dangerous crisis if urgent reforms are not implemented.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the rights group cited two fatal incidents that occurred on 26 April, 2026, as emblematic of a persistent pattern of abuse within the nation's security institutions. "Nigeria cannot continue on this path of bloodshed. We are outraged and deeply shaken by the alarming rise in alleged extrajudicial killings perpetrated by security operatives across Nigeria," CHRICED said.

The organisation stated that "the frequency and brazenness of these incidents, occurring within mere hours of each other, underscore a dangerous collapse of discipline, accountability, and respect for human life within the nation's security institutions."

Effurun shooting

In Effurun, Delta State, a police officer identified as ASP Nuhu Usman was captured on video allegedly shooting 28-year-old Mene Ogidi in broad daylight over a suspected waybill parcel. The footage, which went viral on social media, sparked widespread outrage and public condemnation.

The Delta State Police Command confirmed the "extra-judicial killing," stating that operatives attached to Area Command Effurun had acted on intelligence that the deceased had been apprehended while allegedly attempting to waybill a parcel containing a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition. The Command said ASP Usman, "in clear violation of Force Order 237 and the Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force, discharged his firearm, leading to the death of the suspect."

The officer was arrested, queried, and transferred to Force Headquarters in Abuja. Inspector-General of Police Rilwan Olutunji Disu subsequently ordered his dismissal and prosecution. Speaking in Uyo during the passing out parade of 1,068 retrained Police Constables, the IGP declared that "the era of impunity in the Nigeria Police Force is over."

Abuja shooting

On the same day in Dei-Dei, Abuja, a National Youth Service Corps member was reportedly shot dead inside his father's compound by personnel attached to a military brigade guard. While initial military statements described the incident as a crossfire, CHRICED said eyewitnesses have contradicted this narrative, alleging that the officer later admitted the shooting was a "mistake."

"A mistake that ended a promising life. A mistake that no family should ever have to endure," the group stated.

Pattern of abuse and unfulfilled reforms

CHRICED asserted that the killings are "not random or isolated" but form part of a persistent pattern of state violence. The group recalled that similar abuses triggered the historic #EndSARS protests, where Nigerians demanded an end to police brutality and sweeping security sector reforms.

"Despite public commitments, MOUs, and reform promises made in the aftermath of those protests, the reality on the ground shows that little has changed. The killings continue. The impunity deepens. The promises remain unfulfilled," CHRICED said.

The organisation also cited reports that at least 24 Nigerians were killed during the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, according to documentation by Amnesty International. It warned that plans to recruit 50,000 additional police personnel could worsen abuses without rigorous vetting and human rights training.

"A democratic society cannot survive when security operatives assume the roles of investigator, judge, and executioner. Every suspect, regardless of allegation, is entitled to due process. No uniform confers the right to take a life unlawfully," CHRICED added.

Concerns over pressure on victims' families

The rights group also raised concern over recurring reports that families of victims are sometimes pressured by senior security officials, religious leaders, or community actors to withdraw cases or accept private settlements. "Justice cannot be negotiated. It cannot be buried. It cannot be silenced. Families who have already suffered unimaginable loss should not be forced to fight alone for justice," CHRICED said.

Demands

CHRICED called on the Federal Government to treat every alleged extrajudicial killing as a matter of national urgency. It demanded independent and transparent investigations, full prosecution of offenders regardless of rank, reforms to security training, stronger oversight mechanisms, and public disclosure of outcomes.

Prime Brief Media will continue to track security and rescue efforts across the state as this story develops.

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