The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three officers linked to the controversial shooting that claimed the life of 22-year-old University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo.
The command also declared an inspector who allegedly fled the scene after the shooting a deserter, as pressure mounts for justice for the young graduate.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, announced the disciplinary action on Wednesday while parading the dismissed officers in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the action followed the conclusion of an investigation and an orderly room trial which established the culpability of the officers involved.
Adepoju said the three dismissed policemen would also be charged to court to face appropriate criminal charges.
The development comes less than a week after Obodo was shot during a police pursuit at the Agip-Ada George Junction in Port Harcourt.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, August 27, sparked outrage and protests by family members, friends and youths, who accused the police of killing an innocent young man.
The deceased was reportedly driving his private vehicle when police officers allegedly flagged him down. When he failed to stop, the officers reportedly chased after him.
During the pursuit, Corporal Alfred Louis allegedly opened fire, with one of the bullets striking Obodo.
He was rushed to Palmer’s Hospital in Port Harcourt, where doctors later confirmed him dead. Reports also said the vehicle lost control after the shooting and injured other people.
The incident triggered angry protests around the Ada George area, with demonstrators demanding that the officer who fired the fatal shot be brought to justice.
The police initially confirmed that Louis and other members of the patrol team had been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
The command had also disclosed that Louis was attacked and injured by an angry mob after the shooting, while his rifle was reportedly seized before other officers rescued him and recovered the weapon.
But after completing its investigation, the police command said it had found the officers culpable.
Adepoju said the command would not shield any policeman found to have acted outside the law.
He explained that the patrol team had been pursuing Obodo when Louis opened fire at the vehicle, resulting in the fatal gunshot injury.
The CP said the three members of the patrol team were immediately arrested and detained at the SCID, Port Harcourt, where a comprehensive investigation was conducted.
He added that efforts had been intensified to locate Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, who allegedly absconded after the incident and has now been declared a deserter.
Adepoju said the dismissal and planned prosecution were meant to send a strong message that misconduct, abuse of office, excessive use of force and violation of citizens’ rights would not be tolerated under his watch.
FAMILY, NBA DEMAND JUSTICE
The latest action follows mounting pressure from Obodo’s family and members of the public.
His father, Princewill Obodo, had alleged that the policemen involved were originally deployed to provide security at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, but allegedly left their duty post before the shooting.
Family members and friends staged protests for several days at the spot where Obodo was killed, carrying placards demanding justice.
The Nigerian Bar Association has also intervened in the matter, with its officials visiting the police command and the bereaved family over the circumstances surrounding the death.
The NBA described Obodo as a 22-year-old Computer Science graduate of UNIPORT who was awaiting his NYSC posting when he died.
Human rights group Amnesty International has also called on the Federal Government to intervene, describing the killing as an alleged extrajudicial execution and questioning whether the police should be allowed to investigate the matter alone.
With three officers now dismissed and facing prosecution, attention is expected to shift to the criminal case and the whereabouts of the runaway inspector.
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