The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed four officers found culpable in the shooting of Anthony Obodo, a fresh graduate of the University of Port Harcourt who was awaiting his National Youth Service Corps call-up.
Key Highlights
- Four Rivers police officers have been summarily dismissed over the shooting.
- The deceased, Anthony Obodo, was a fresh University of Port Harcourt graduate.
- Police said the officers will be charged to court over the incident.
- Five suspects were arrested over alleged kidnapping, armed robbery and one-chance robbery.
- Police recovered a Keke mini-bus and 16 mobile phones allegedly stolen from victims.
- The command said it would intensify intelligence-led operations against criminal networks.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt.
Adepoju said the officers were dismissed after an investigation established their culpability in the death of Obodo.
The commissioner recalled that on August 27, 2026, four police officers returning from security duty at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, venue of the recently concluded NBA Conference, flagged down a black Lexus vehicle with tinted windows.
According to him, the driver failed to stop, prompting the officers to pursue the vehicle. During the chase, one of the officers, Corporal Alfred Louis, opened fire, hitting the driver.
The victim was later taken to a medical facility, where he was confirmed dead.
The other members of the patrol team were identified as ASP Fabian Kpeanabari, Inspector Solomon Nworgu and Police Constable Michael Ejekwu.
Adepoju said the four officers were initially detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation before they were summarily dismissed after being found culpable.
He added that the officers would subsequently be charged to court to face appropriate criminal charges.
The commissioner said the action demonstrated the command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights. He condoled with the family of the deceased and assured them that the police would take necessary steps to ensure justice.
Five Suspects Arrested Over One-Chance Robbery
In a separate development, Adepoju disclosed that the command had arrested five suspects allegedly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and one-chance robbery within Port Harcourt and its environs.
The suspects were identified as Nelson Idakiniselegja, popularly known as Mandela, Michael Matthew, aka Pilot, Kelly Edison, aka BTC, Daniel Obodo, aka Mazi, and Chisom Unrgbu, aka Favour.
Items recovered from the suspects included a Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823XE, painted black and white, as well as 16 assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.
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Adepoju said the arrests followed several reports of one-chance robbery incidents across the Port Harcourt metropolis, prompting him to direct the Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify intelligence-led operations against suspected criminal syndicates.
He said the operation began on August 18, 2026, at about 2:45 a.m., when operatives stormed a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt, and arrested one of the suspects.
The suspect reportedly led investigators to another four-man one-chance robbery syndicate allegedly operating around Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba.
The commissioner said investigations were ongoing and that the suspects had allegedly confessed to involvement in the criminal activities.
Adepoju assured residents that the command would sustain efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related activities and other violent crimes across Rivers State.
