Delta State Police have arrested Patrick Asini (34) and Tega Ojo (20) after a viral video showed them smoking marijuana on a police patrol van and making obscene gestures, sparking public outrage
The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two men who appeared in a viral video smoking what appeared to be marijuana while sitting on a police patrol van and making obscene gestures towards law enforcement officers.
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The suspects, identified as 34-year-old Patrick Asini and 20-year-old Tega Ojo, were apprehended after the controversial footage surfaced on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), triggering widespread public outrage and prompting swift police action.
The video, originally shared by user @dammiedammie35, depicts one of the young men casually seated atop a police patrol van bearing the inscription “Nigeria Police Force Anti-crime Patrol, Oghara Division,” while actively smoking.
A second voice, audible in the background, can be heard encouraging the behaviour with explicit language: “Tell them, fuck the cops, bro. Pass me some weed, man,” while one individual flashes his middle finger in the direction of an officer seen in the distance. The scene appeared to be set at a car wash.
The footage quickly garnered significant attention, notably reaching the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who subsequently confirmed the arrests via his official X handle.
Police is your friend. It just depends on how you interpret it.
“The two suspects, Patrick Junior Asini, aged 34, and Tega Ojo, aged 20, in the video, have been arrested. The following exhibits were found in their possession,” Edafe tweeted on Thursday.
Items recovered from the suspects underscore the nature of the alleged activity.
These include an army khaki uniform, a green beret, a face mask, an axe, a cutlass, six smartphones, four laptops, a quantity of weed, weed grinders (also known as crushers), and Rizla rolling papers.
These items are commonly associated with marijuana consumption.
SP Bright Edafe, while reiterating the command’s unwavering commitment to upholding law and order, used the occasion to convey a broader message about the dynamic relationship between the public and the police.
“Police is your friend. It just depends on how you interpret it,” he wrote, offering a nuanced perspective on public perception and interaction with law enforcement.
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This incident highlights the challenges police forces face in maintaining authority and public respect in the digital age.
