Delta Police Refute Social Media Claims Over Fatal Ughelli Crash, Say Driver Was Behind Wheel

The Police has dismissed social media reports alleging that a police officer caused a fatal crash involving a newly delivered Mercedes-Benz and a commercial tricycle that happened in Ughelli on Sunday, describing the claims as inaccurate.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said preliminary findings indicate that the owner of the Mercedes-Benz was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident and not a police officer as widely reported online.

According to Edafe, the driver, who is currently in police custody, told investigators during questioning that there were no police officers at the scene before the crash occurred. He reportedly explained that he failed to notice the tricycle (keke) in time, leading to the collision.

The police spokesperson also clarified that contrary to reports claiming several people were killed, only one person died.

The accident had sparked widespread reactions after social media posts alleged that the vehicle, which had reportedly just arrived from Lagos without a number plate, was stopped during a police stop-and-search operation. The posts further claimed that a police officer insisted on driving the vehicle to a station and subsequently crashed into a commercial tricycle, resulting in multiple casualties.

Reacting to the reports, the PPRO expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend of misinformation targeting the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is really sad when you think of the agenda against the Nigeria Police Force. We may not be perfect, but we do not deserve this,” he said, adding that the facts established so far do not support the version of events circulating online.

Investigations into the crash are continuing, while the driver remains in custody as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.