Four police officers dismissed in Nigeria after driver fatally wounded
Police in Nigeria’s Rivers State have dismissed four officers found to be involved in the fatal shooting of student and driver Anthony Obodo during a chase in Port Harcourt. As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the officers also face criminal prosecution.
Disciplinary decision
Rivers State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju announced this on September 2 at a briefing in Port Harcourt. According to him, the investigation established the law enforcement officers’ involvement in the incident.
Before their dismissal, the officers underwent internal disciplinary proceedings. Another inspector suspected of involvement in the incident is, according to police, in hiding after the shooting. He will also undergo disciplinary proceedings after his arrest.
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Police version
According to police, Obodo sustained a gunshot wound on August 27 at about 5:30 p.m. during a chase involving officers from the Agip Division in Port Harcourt. A patrol returning from special duty at Yakubu Gowon Stadium spotted a black Lexus vehicle with fully tinted windows.
Police claim that the driver failed to stop at the patrol’s request and tried to evade inspection, after which the chase began. During the pursuit, Corporal Alfred Louis opened fire on the vehicle, wounding Obodo. He was taken to hospital, where a doctor pronounced him dead.
Three patrol members were detained after the incident and placed in the State Criminal Investigation Department. Adepoju expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and stated that police would not shield officers who acted outside the law.
