The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed four police personnel over the death of a student, Anthony A. Obodo, who was allegedly shot during a police pursuit in Port Harcourt.
Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga A. Adepoju, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command headquarters, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, September 2.
The officers involved are ASP Fabian Kpeanabari, Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, Corporal Alfred Louis and Police Constable Michael Ejekwu.
According to the Commissioner, the incident occurred on August 27, 2026, when a patrol team from Agip Division, returning from special duty at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, sighted a black, fully tinted Lexus vehicle with registration number ABU-376-TM.
Adepoju said the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly sped away, prompting the patrol team to give chase.
During the pursuit, Corporal Louis allegedly opened fire at the vehicle, hitting the driver, identified as Anthony A. Obodo.
The victim was rushed to Palmer’s Hospital, Port Harcourt, where he was treated but later pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
The Commissioner said the officers were detained and investigated, while efforts were made to locate Inspector Nwrogu, who reportedly absconded after the incident.
He said the investigation established the culpability of the officers, who were subsequently tried in an orderly room and recommended for dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.
“They will subsequently be charged to court to face the appropriate criminal charges in accordance with the law,” Adepoju said.
The Commissioner stressed that the police would not protect officers who abused their powers or acted contrary to the law, adding that “no police officer is above the law.”
Meanwhile, the Command also announced the arrest of 14 suspects allegedly linked to one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery and cult-related activities across Port Harcourt and its environs.
Five suspects identified during the briefing include Nelson Idakiniseleg, also known as Mandela, 30; Michael Matthew, a.k.a Pilot, 29; Kelly Edison, aka BTC, 30; Daniel Obodo, a.k.a Mazi, 18; and Chisom Unegbu, aka Favour, 28.
The suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following repeated reports of one-chance robberies in the metropolis.
Police said Nelson was arrested at a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street on August 18 and allegedly confessed to belonging to a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Michael Matthew on August 23. Police described him as an alleged member of the Iceland cult group and the leader of one of the robbery syndicates operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road.
Other suspects were subsequently arrested at their hideouts, while Chisom Unegbu, identified as the alleged driver of the syndicate, was arrested at a hotel on Aker Road on August 24.
Police recovered a black-and-white mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE, allegedly used by the syndicate, as well as 16 assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.
The Command alleged that Nelson specialised in removing SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.
The Commissioner said investigations were ongoing to identify other members of the syndicates, trace their victims and recover additional proceeds of crime.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led operations against one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vehicles and criminal activities to the police, while warning against taking the law into their own hands.
