The Digest :
The Imo State Police Command has dismissed three officers, Sgt. Ekwueme Gift, Sgt. Eto Ikechukwu, and Cpl. Divine Ogwuaru, following their involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, and car snatching. An orderly room trial found them guilty of offences including impersonation. A civilian accomplice, Elias Chukwu, who allegedly served as driver during the operation, has also been charged. The suspects carried out the criminal act on February 8, 2026, along Mbaise Road in Owerri, robbing residents at gunpoint and snatching a vehicle. They were apprehended while attempting to dispose of the stolen vehicle on Owerri-Onitsha Road. Police Commissioner Audu Bosso reiterated zero tolerance for corruption, directing immediate arraignment. The Command urged public reporting of misconduct via its Complaint Response Unit.
Key Points:
- The dismissal sends a strong message that police misconduct and criminality will not be tolerated.
- It helps restore public confidence in law enforcement following egregious officer misconduct.
- Victims gain some measure of justice, while the force demonstrates internal accountability.
- This signals the police command's commitment to weeding out bad elements within its ranks.
- The timing, with swift action, reinforces deterrence against future officer criminality.
The swift dismissal and planned prosecution underscore the Command's resolve to sanitise its ranks and hold erring officers accountable.
Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, Imo State Police Command
