The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three police officers over the killing of 22-year-old Anthony A. Obodo, a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
Adepoju said the affected officers were dismissed following an orderly room trial conducted after an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Obodo’s death.
According to the police commissioner, the incident occurred on August 27 when a patrol team allegedly flagged down Obodo, who was driving a tinted Lexus vehicle, but he reportedly failed to stop.
The police team subsequently gave chase, during which Corporal Alfred Louis, one of the officers attached to the patrol team, allegedly opened fire at the vehicle.
A bullet reportedly struck Obodo, who sustained a gunshot injury.
He was rushed to Palmer’s Hospital in Port Harcourt, where he was attended to before being pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
Obodo, who was reportedly awaiting his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up letter, was shot on the popular Ada George Road in Port Harcourt.
The incident sparked protests in parts of the state, with youths from Ndele Community in Emohua Local Government Area and other areas reportedly storming the Agip area of Port Harcourt in protest over the killing.
Speaking on the case, Adepoju said the three members of the patrol team were immediately arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Port Harcourt, where a comprehensive investigation was conducted.
He said the officers would subsequently be charged to court to face the appropriate criminal charges in accordance with the law.
The commissioner reiterated that the Rivers State Police Command would not shield officers found to have acted outside the law or violated professional standards.
“Let me state clearly that the Rivers State Police Command places a high premium on professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights and the protection of lives and property.
“Where allegations of misconduct or criminality are made against police personnel, we will not shield any officer found to have acted outside the law under my watch.”
Adepoju said the disciplinary action against the officers demonstrated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to accountability and respect for the rule of law.
He added that police officers must remain accountable for the powers entrusted to them and warned that no member of the Force would be protected when found to have abused those powers.
“Let me reiterate that no police officer is above the law,” he said.
