The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three police officers linked to the killing of a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) graduate, Anthony Obodo, in the Ada George area of Port Harcourt last Thursday.
The command also declared an Inspector of Police, who allegedly fled the scene after the shooting, a deserter, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killing continue.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday in Port Harcourt while parading the three dismissed officers before journalists.
Adepoju said the disciplinary action followed the conclusion of investigations and the establishment of the culpability of the officers in the incident.
“The Command has taken appropriate disciplinary action against the police personnel involved, and the officers being paraded today have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and will be charged to court,” he said.
The commissioner did not disclose the identities of the officers or provide further details on the specific roles each of them played in the incident.
Obodo, a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, was reportedly killed along the Ada George axis of Port Harcourt last Thursday, triggering public outrage and renewed concerns over alleged police excesses and accountability in the state.
The incident had heightened calls for a transparent investigation and appropriate sanctions against any security personnel found responsible for the shooting.
The latest action by the police command represents a significant development in the case, with the three officers now facing criminal prosecution following their dismissal from the force.
Adepoju said the Inspector who allegedly fled after the shooting had also been declared a deserter, signalling that the command was taking disciplinary measures against all personnel found to have breached professional standards in connection with the incident.
The commissioner assured the public that the command would continue to uphold discipline and accountability within its ranks, stressing the need for police personnel to operate within the law and respect the rights of citizens.
The case is expected to proceed to court following the dismissal of the three officers, where the circumstances surrounding Obodo’s death and the extent of the officers’ culpability will be subjected to judicial scrutiny.