Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Bright Edafe, has stated that he sees no need to apologize for a controversial social media response amid backlash over the handling of sexual assault allegations in Ozoro community.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Edafe addressed the uproar surrounding his reply to activist Rinu Oduala on X, where he had posted: “Whenever I issue a statement, it turns you on. Why if I may ask?”
He explained that the comment was not intended to cause harm or offense. He emphasized that an apology would only be warranted if there had been deliberate intent to hurt someone.
According to him, any misinterpretation of his words falls on those who chose a particular meaning over others, and he maintained that his statement carried no such harmful connotation.
The controversy arose following viral videos depicting women being harassed and assaulted during a festival in Ozoro, Delta State, which sparked nationwide outrage.
Edafe had earlier issued an official statement condemning the acts as alarming and embarrassing, noting that the Commissioner of Police ordered an investigation.
Police arrested 16 suspects, including the chief priest, and transferred them for further probe at state headquarters. No official rape reports were received, and authorities clarified the event was a fertility-related tradition, not involving assault, though poor communication contributed to the chaos.
Edafe later deleted the contentious post after public criticism mounted, describing the episode as a learning moment.
He reiterated his position that no apology was necessary, as the response lacked malicious intent.
His words: “I personally do not think I need to apologize because there was no harm intended. There was no harm intended. It’s only when it is done with a deliberate intention to hurt anybody that is when I should apologize. If people misinterpret what I have said naturally it’s their fault because you would want to wonder out of all the meaning attributed to this statement, why did you pick this one? So I did not there was no intention to hurt what anybody I don’t see a reason why I should apologize.”……See More
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