By WARRI – A young woman identified simply as Ella was reportedly arrested around midnight on Sunday by operatives of the Warri Area Command of the Nigeria Police, allegedly for wearing what officers described as “indecent attire”.
The incident occurred along Ginuwa Street, near Ginuwa Junction on Warri-Sapele Road in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was gathered that a Toyota Sienna patrol van carrying about five armed police officers suddenly emerged from Okandeji Street and intercepted three young women walking under a solar-powered streetlight, presumably returning from a night outing.
Without prior questioning, the policemen allegedly alighted from the van and forcefully arrested Ella, accusing her of violating the controversial “indecent dressing” policy recently publicised by the police.
Despite protests from her companions, she was dragged into the vehicle and driven off toward the Warri Main Market area – the direction leading to the Warri Area Command and the ‘A’ Division Police Station.
Ella’s friends, visibly distressed and uncertain of the officers’ identities, were later seen heading toward the market in search of her. A journalist who witnessed the event from a distance confirmed that Ella was sandwiched between officers in the vehicle before it sped off.
This incident comes in the wake of a controversial statement made by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, who recently posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle that the police had begun arresting women considered to be dressed indecently.
The announcement sparked widespread criticism from civil society groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which urged the police to immediately withdraw the directive, citing concerns over fundamental human rights and abuse of power.
Many residents of Delta State have described the directive as draconian and a threat to personal freedom, especially at a time when nightlife is gradually returning to Warri due to the improved street lighting projects executed by the NDDC and the Delta State government.
The development also comes against the backdrop of declining crime rates in Warri over the past year, following the rehabilitation and integration of many former restive youths into pipeline surveillance contracts.
Attempts to reach the Delta State Police Command for official comment on the arrest were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
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