SP Bright Edafe, spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, has defended officers who searched passengers’ baggage at a police checkpoint on a road trip from Benin to Owerri.
The event in question involves a woman who documented her experience in a viral video posted on Wednesday, which showed officials checking boxes, bags, and sealed waybill items belonging to people, including mothers and children.
According to her, the extensive search caused an hour’s delay for the travellers.
Edafe responded to concerns over the search in a post on Thursday via X, stating that the police have the right to investigate all objects, including waybills, during stop-and-search operations.
He stressed that such searches were important for security reasons and asked whether the same scrutiny would be applied if hazardous weapons were uncovered.
“What if they had recovered Beretta pistols and ammunition while carrying out this thorough search? Would you be asking this question?” Edafe said.
Edafe clarified that while male officers are not allowed to physically search a woman’s body, they have the authority to inspect her belongings.
“The police were right and can search all items, including waybills, during the course of stop-and-search duty. And yes, they can search the belongings of a woman.
“They are only not allowed to search a woman physically if they are male officers, but not their properties. Are we clear?” he added.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
