The Imo State Police Command has taken disciplinary action against one of its officers, demoting Sergeant Anayo Ekezie to the rank of Corporal, after a disturbing video surfaced online showing him and two colleagues assaulting an unarmed civilian along the Owerri-Aba Road.
The viral footage, which sparked public outrage and widespread condemnation, captured officers from the Safer Highway Unit engaging in what has been described as an unprovoked and gross abuse of power. The incident triggered an immediate internal investigation and subsequent orderly room trial by the police command.
In a statement released Wednesday night by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, the officers involved were identified as Inspector Ofem Obongha, Inspector Obinna Okereke, and Sergeant Anayo Ekezie. The internal trial concluded with Ekezie being found guilty of deploying a ‘smoke gunner’ during the assault—a move considered a serious breach of professional conduct.
While Ekezie faced demotion, his colleagues, Inspectors Obongha and Okereke, received severe reprimands for dereliction of duty and failure to supervise their subordinate, thereby enabling the assault to take place under their watch.
Reacting to the outcome, Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, strongly condemned the officers’ actions, describing them as a flagrant violation of the Nigeria Police Force’s Code of Conduct and a direct infringement on the victim’s fundamental human rights.
“This kind of behavior is intolerable and undermines the integrity of the entire Police Force. The Imo State Command remains unwavering in its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and strict accountability,” CP Danjuma stated.
He reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct and reassured the public that any officer found acting outside the bounds of law and ethics would face the full weight of disciplinary action.
The swift response by the command is being viewed by many as a positive step toward restoring public confidence in the force, especially at a time when calls for police reform and human rights accountability are louder than ever.
PIONEER NEWS 