Daud Olatunji
The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three police officers found culpable in the killing of a University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo, during a patrol operation in Port Harcourt.
The command also declared an Inspector, identified as Solomon Nwrogu, a deserter after he allegedly fled following the shooting incident.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the three dismissed officers before journalists in Port Harcourt.
Obodo was reportedly shot last Thursday around the Ada George area of Port Harcourt after a police patrol team allegedly flagged down the vehicle he was driving.
According to the police, the patrol team gave chase after the deceased allegedly failed to stop.
During the pursuit, one of the officers, Corporal Alfred Louis, reportedly opened fire at the vehicle, hitting Obodo.
The victim was rushed to Palmer’s Hospital in Port Harcourt, where he was attended to before being pronounced dead by a doctor.
Adepoju said the three officers involved were immediately arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
He said the officers subsequently faced an orderly room trial after investigators established their culpability in the incident.
“Where allegations of misconduct or criminality are made against police personnel, we will not shield any officer found to have acted outside the law under my watch,” the commissioner said.
Adepoju said the three officers had been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and would be charged before a court.
He added that efforts had been intensified to locate Nwrogu, who allegedly absconded after the incident, noting that the Inspector had subsequently been declared a deserter.
The police commissioner acknowledged the concerns generated by Obodo’s death, particularly among his family and members of the public.
He said the disciplinary action against the officers was part of the command’s commitment to accountability, professionalism and respect for human rights.
Adepoju stressed that the command would not tolerate misconduct, abuse of office, excessive use of force or other violations of the law by its personnel.
He assured residents that the Rivers Police Command would continue to uphold professionalism and transparency while protecting lives and property across the state..
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