The Imo State Police Command said that it has identified the three officers involved in an assault on a man, with a disciplinary action initiated.
Thenewsbearer learnt that the action taken by the command was in response to a viral video showing the police officers assaulting a man along the Owerri–Aba Road.
The officers were Inspector Ofem Obongha, Inspector Obinna Okereke, and Sergeant Anayo Ekezie, all from the Safer Highway Unit.
In the viral video, Sergeant Ekezie was seen using the smoke gun he held to hit the man on the head, while he also gave him several leg kicks.
The man was also seen held by his trouser’s waist band by the two Inspectors along with Ekezie, accompanied by hard push and pull he was made to experience.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, who spoke on the step taken by the police command, said in a statement: “Following a review of the video, the Command conducted an orderly room trial in line with Nigeria Police Force disciplinary procedures.
“Sergeant Anayo Ekezie was found guilty of using his issued smoke gun in the assault and has been demoted to the rank of Corporal.
Inspectors Obongha and Okereke were severely reprimanded for failing to exercise proper supervisory control, which allowed the unprofessional conduct to occur.”
The PPRO stated that the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, condemned the officers’ actions, describing them as a breach of the Force’s Code of Conduct and human rights standards.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated NPF’s zero-tolerance policy for police misconduct and promised appropriate action for those found guilty.
“To this end, the Command urges the public to report any incidents of police misconduct through the Complaints Response Unit (CRU), X-Squad Unit, or via 08033424051, 08148024755.
“The Command is committed to transparency, professionalism, and protecting citizens’ rights,” DSP Okoye said.
