The Delta State Police Command has arrested and arraigned two men seen in a now-viral video smoking what is believed to be marijuana inside a police patrol van while making obscene gestures at law enforcement officers.
The suspects, identified as 34-year-old Patrick Asini and 20-year-old Tega Ojo, are facing a three-count charge, including cyberbullying and cyberstalking, contrary to Sections 24 and 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
Their arrest followed a wave of public outrage after a disturbing video surfaced online showing the men seated on a marked police vehicle, bearing the inscription “Nigeria Police Force Anti-crime Patrol, Oghara Division.”
One of the suspects is seen smoking, while a voice in the background is heard saying, “tell them, f*** the cops, bro. Pass me some weed, man,” before flashing a middle finger toward an officer in the distance.
The video, believed to have been recorded at a car wash in Oghara, Delta State, was originally uploaded by user @dammiedammie35 on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
It quickly went viral, drawing condemnation from across the country and prompting swift action from the police.
In a statement released on Friday, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspects had already been arraigned before the Oghara High Court.
He disclosed that they had been remanded in the Sapele Custodial Centre, pending further legal proceedings.
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“The two suspects have been charged to the Oghara High Court and are presently remanded at Sapele prisons on a three-count charge of cyberbullying and cyberstalking, contrary to sections 24 & 27 of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act, amongst other charges,” the statement read.
However, SP Edafe stressed that the behaviour exhibited by the defendants in the video was not only disrespectful but criminal, and would be dealt with decisively to deter similar incidents.
“This should serve as a warning to others that we are monitoring the internet. Any attempt to ridicule the police or promote unlawful behaviour online will be met with the full force of the law,” Edafe said.
Under the Nigerian Cybercrime Act of 2015, offenses related to cyberbullying and cyberstalking are punishable by fines and imprisonment.
Section 24 criminalizes sending messages or content that may cause annoyance, insult, or harm to others using computer systems, while Section 27 covers aiding and abetting criminal activity via cyberspace.
