Uproar, mourning as soldiers allegedly beat MOPOL officer to death
…deceased family, community leaders, Rights advocate demand justice
By Chucks Nwonye
A Mobile Police Officer, Fidelis Agbike, was allegedly beaten to death in Delta State on Monday following a confrontation with soldiers, a close family source has said, sparking calls for a transparent investigation into the incident involving members of Nigeria’s security forces.
Agbike, an indigene of Opirikwu in Yala, Igede-Eddi, was serving as a MOPOL officer before his death. According to an account shared by his elder sister, the officer left home on Monday as he did on other days and rode his motorcycle to a bar they usually visited in Delta State.
The family said trouble started while Agbike was alighting from his motorcycle. His leg reportedly brushed against a soldier identified as Sgt. Baraya Shehu, who was standing nearby.
“The soldier allegedly slapped Fidelis, and an argument quickly turned into a fight,” a relative stated. The family further alleged that the soldier later called other soldiers to the scene, who then joined in assaulting the police officer.
Agbike did not survive the attack. His body has reportedly been deposited at a mortuary in Delta State.
“He went out alive. He never came back home,” the family said in part of a statement mourning the officer.
“A man who left home like any other day, expecting to return to his family, ended up losing his life in an encounter involving fellow members of the security forces.”
The news has drawn grief across the Igede community in the South-South, with relatives describing the deceased as a dutiful son and brother. Community members said the incident highlights growing concerns about inter-agency clashes and the need for better coordination and discipline among security personnel.
“This is not just a story. A family has lost a son. A community has lost a brother. A loved one has been taken away,” a family disclosed.
In an appeal circulated on Monday night, the family of Fidelis Agbike called on all Igede people living in the South-South, particularly those in Delta State, to come forward and support efforts to ensure the circumstances of his death are properly investigated.
“We appeal for a transparent investigation, accountability and justice, regardless of the uniform involved,” the statement read.
The family also urged Army authorities to produce Sgt. Baraya Shehu and others allegedly involved “to face” questioning over the incident.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army and the Delta State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident. Efforts to reach the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer for comments were unsuccessful.
Human rights advocates and community leaders in the region were said to have also weighed in, saying that cases involving security personnel must be handled with urgency to preserve public trust. They noted that when members of the armed forces and police are involved in disputes that turn fatal, independent and impartial probes are critical to ensuring accountability.
The death of Agbike has added to a string of reported altercations between security operatives in different parts of the country in recent years, many of which have prompted calls for clearer rules of engagement and stronger mechanisms for redress when civilians and fellow security personnel are harmed.
The Agbike family in Opirikwu and relatives spread across Delta and Rivers States are focusing now on answers. Our correspondent gathered they are not seeking reprisals, but due process.
“May justice speak for Fidelis Agbike. May his soul rest in peace,” the family said in its tribute.
Leaders and members of the Igede community said they will be monitoring developments closely and expect authorities to provide updates on the investigation in the coming days.
