Rivers State Police dismiss three officers over student’s death during a pursuit and arrest five suspected members of one-chance robbery syndicates in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three officers over their alleged roles in the shooting that claimed the life of a student, Anthony Obodo, during a police pursuit in the state.
The disciplinary action was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, during a press briefing held at the Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Adepoju said the officers had been subjected to an orderly room trial after investigations into the August 27 incident established that they were culpable.
He explained that the process resulted in a recommendation for their dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force, adding that the affected officers would also be prosecuted for appropriate criminal offences.
The commissioner stressed that the police would not protect any member of the Force found to have acted outside the law or abused the authority attached to the office.
The incident involving Obodo occurred along Ada George Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to the police, a patrol team was carrying out a routine operation when officers attempted to stop a vehicle. The driver allegedly refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit.
During the chase, Corporal Alfred Louis, who was attached to the patrol team, allegedly fired his weapon at the vehicle.
The gunshot struck Obodo, who was driving at the time.
The victim was rushed to Palmer’s Hospital in Port Harcourt, where medical personnel attended to him. Despite efforts to save his life, he was later pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
Following the shooting, three officers attached to the patrol team were arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Port Harcourt while the circumstances surrounding the incident were investigated.
The police also commenced efforts to locate Inspector Solomon Nworgu, who allegedly left the scene after the incident.
Adepoju said the punishment handed down to the officers was intended to reinforce the principle that police personnel must operate within the limits of the law.
He said the Command would continue to take disciplinary action against officers whose conduct undermines public confidence in the police.
“The action taken against these officers demonstrates that the Nigeria Police Force will not shield personnel who abuse the powers entrusted to them or act contrary to the law and professional standards of the Force,” Adepoju said.
While addressing journalists, the commissioner also announced the arrest of five suspects allegedly linked to “one-chance” robbery operations in Port Harcourt and adjoining areas.
The suspects were identified as Nelson Idakiniselegha, 30, also known as Mandela; Michael Matthew, 29, alias Pilot; Kelly Edison, 30, popularly known as BTC; Daniel Obodo, 18, alias Mazi; and Chisom Unegbu, 28, also known as Favour.
The arrests followed a renewed effort by the Command to tackle one-chance robbery, a form of criminal activity in which unsuspecting passengers are allegedly lured into vehicles before being robbed.
Adepoju said the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit was instructed to intensify intelligence-driven operations after receiving repeated reports of attacks involving suspected one-chance gangs across the Port Harcourt metropolis.
The first major breakthrough, according to the commissioner, came on August 18 at about 2:45 a.m., when operatives raided a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
Nelson Idakiniselegha was arrested during the operation.
The police said preliminary investigation showed that the suspect, who hails from Nkoro Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, allegedly belonged to a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate.
His interrogation reportedly provided investigators with information about another suspected gang said to be operating in different parts of the city.
The areas mentioned by the police include Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Michael Matthew at about 10:30 p.m. on August 23.
The police alleged that Matthew, who is also known as Pilot, was a member of the Iceland cult group and allegedly acted as the leader of one of the suspected robbery syndicates operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road.
Investigators subsequently arrested Kelly Edison and Daniel Obodo at their respective hideouts over their alleged connections with the criminal operations.
The two suspects were also said to have confessed to participating in the alleged activities during interrogation.
The police commissioner said investigators uncovered another aspect of the alleged operation involving the theft of victims’ SIM cards.
According to Adepoju, Idakiniselegha allegedly specialised in removing SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorised transactions from their bank accounts.
Police later arrested Chisom Unegbu, whom investigators allegedly identified as a driver for the syndicate.
Unegbu was arrested at about 1:20 p.m. on August 24 at a hotel around Aker Road in Port Harcourt.
The Command said several items were recovered during the operations.
Among the exhibits was a black-and-white minibus with registration number RGM 823 XE, which the police alleged was used by members of the syndicate.
Sixteen assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims were also recovered.
The commissioner, however, noted that the investigation was still ongoing and that the Command was working to establish the identities of other individuals allegedly connected to the syndicates.
He said investigators were also making efforts to trace possible victims, recover more proceeds of crime and gather additional evidence that could assist the prosecution of the suspects.
Adepoju assured residents that the police would sustain operations against criminal networks involved in one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence and other offences threatening public safety.
“We will not relent in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for one-chance robberies, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related activities and other violent crimes within the state,” he said.
The commissioner also appealed to residents to remain cautious, particularly when entering vehicles operated by unknown persons.
He urged members of the public to promptly provide the police with information about suspicious individuals, vehicles or criminal activities in their communities.
Adepoju further warned residents against responding to criminal incidents by taking the law into their own hands.
Instead, he advised the public to alert law enforcement agencies so that suspects could be apprehended and prosecuted through the appropriate legal process.
He also encouraged residents who encounter misconduct by police officers to report such incidents through the appropriate channels.
The commissioner reaffirmed that the Rivers State Police Command would continue to prioritise accountability, professionalism and respect for human rights in its operations.
“The Rivers State Police Command under my leadership remains committed to professionalism, accountability, transparency, respect for human rights and service to the people,” Adepoju stated.
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