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The spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, on Monday defended a controversial social media remark directed at activist Rinu Oduala, saying his statement had been misinterpreted and “sexualised”.
Edafe faced backlash after replying to Oduala on X during an exchange over viral videos showing women being assaulted during a festival in Ozoro.
The police spokesman had earlier condemned the incident, describing it as “alarming, disgusting and embarrassing”, and said the state commissioner of police had ordered an investigation.
Oduala criticised the police response, accusing authorities of issuing statements instead of making arrests.
“You are still waiting to assure instead of already arresting people. If it’s to do video warning against protest now, we will see you fast! Bright wey no bright,” Oduala replied.
Edafe then responded with a now-deleted remark that drew criticism online, writing, “Whenever I issue a statement, it turns you on. Why if I may ask?”
Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, Edafe said the comment was not intended to have a sexual meaning.
“It is well, but why I’m worried is that nobody is talking about what Rinu said to me, and it’s very sad because bullies too are human beings. Rinu’s statement to me was very clear. It was a very clear insulting statement. My statement was not insulting. My statement was only sexualised by Rinu,” Edafe said.
“Nobody is talking to her. Everybody is talking to me and it’s very, very sad because like I said, bullies too are human beings. It was Rinu who sexualised my statement. I never sexualised that statement.”
The police spokesperson maintained that his original post contained no sexual connotation, insisting that the interpretation was subjective.
“I never made a sexual statement to her. The word is there for all to see what it means. If she sexualises it or she gives it her own meaning, well, she has the right to her own opinion,” he said.
Edafe also said the activist had insulted him in her earlier post and that public reactions had focused mainly on his response.
“However, the fact that she insulted me and nobody is talking to her at all is actually very sad,” he added.
He said he deleted the tweet after the backlash, but not as an admission of wrongdoing.
“Obviously, we hold allegiance to Nigerians. If Nigerians believe that the statement was out of line, there’s nobody that cannot come back to them and say, okay, I think I need to take it down and that was why I did it.
“But for Rinu, I don’t owe her any explanation. She insulted me and she should also be asked questions,” he said.
“Rinu’s statement to me was a very clear insinuative statement…Police, too, are human beings”
Delta State Police PRO Bright Edafe says he deleted a controversial tweet, citing misinterpretation and duty to the public over pressure from activists. pic.twitter.com/p01IvJLnqw
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) March 23, 2026
