Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has condemned the alleged killing of a 22-year-old University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo, and assured protesters that officers involved in the incident would face appropriate disciplinary action.
Adepoju, who addressed protesters in Port Harcourt, said the officers involved had been detained and appealed for calm, assuring the public that the police would not cover up the case.
Protests have continued for a third day following Obodo’s alleged shooting at the Ada George-Agip Junction on Aug. 27.
According to his family and protesters, police officers flagged down the car Obodo was driving and later pursued him after he allegedly failed to stop. One of the officers reportedly fired three shots, one of which struck him.
Obodo was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Rivers State Police Command identified the alleged shooter as Corporal Alfred Louis and said he and other officers involved had been arrested.
Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe said youths attacked Louis after the shooting and took his rifle, but other officers later rescued him and recovered the weapon.
On Tuesday, family members, friends and other protesters gathered along Ada George Road, demanding justice and carrying placards with messages including, “Give us Justice.”
One of the protest leaders, Charles Chukwu, called on the Rivers State Government, police authorities and the state chief judge to intervene.
Chukwu also urged the police to publicly parade the officer accused of firing the fatal shot to demonstrate that the suspect would not be shielded.
Meanwhile, Obodo’s father, Princewill Obodo, alleged that the officers involved had been deployed to provide security at the Nigerian Bar Association’s annual general conference in Port Harcourt but left their duty post before the incident.
He said the family had been assured by the police area commander and divisional police officer that his son was innocent.
The father called on the authorities and Nigerians to ensure that those responsible for his son’s death are brought to justice.
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