Anthony Obodo Killing: Rivers Police Dismiss Three Officers, Hunt Inspector Who Fled Shooting Scene

• The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three officers over the killing of University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony A. Obodo, during a patrol operation along Ada George, Port Harcourt, on August 27, 2026.

• Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, who was among the officers involved in the operation, allegedly fled after the incident and has been declared a deserter, with the command intensifying efforts to locate and arrest him.

• The police said its investigation established the culpability of the officers, leading to orderly-room proceedings and the dismissal of ASP Fabian Kpeanabari, Corporal Alfred Louis and Police Constable Michael Ejokwu, who will face criminal charges in court.

• The Command also announced the arrest of 14 suspected one-chance robbers in Port Harcourt, including five suspects allegedly linked to robbery syndicates, with a mini-bus and 16 mobile phones recovered during the operations.

September 02, () — The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three officers over the killing of University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony A. Obodo, during a patrol operation in Port Harcourt, and declared another officer involved in the incident a deserter after he allegedly fled.

Briefing newsmen on Wednesday at the Command headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, named the dismissed officers as ASP Fabian Kpeanabari, Corporal Alfred Louis and Police Constable Michael Ejokwu, while Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, who allegedly absconded following the incident, has been declared a deserter.

Adepoju said the command had concluded its investigation into the incident and established the culpability of the police personnel involved.

According to him, the affected officers were subjected to orderly-room proceedings in line with police disciplinary procedures and were recommended for dismissal. He said the three officers have consequently been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and would be charged to court for appropriate criminal offences.

The commissioner stressed that the police command would not shield personnel found to have abused the powers entrusted to them or acted contrary to the law and professional standards.

“No police officer is above the law”, he said, assuring the public that the command would continue to uphold accountability and professionalism.

Adepoju also condoled with the family of the deceased, assuring them that the command would do everything within its powers to ensure that justice is served.

reports that the extrajudicial killing of Anthony Obodo occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at about 5:30pm.

According to the police account, a patrol team from Agip Division, led by ASP Kpeanabari, was returning from NBA special duty at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium when the officers sighted a black, fully tinted Lexus with registration number ABU-376-TM.

The officers reportedly attempted to stop the vehicle for a check, but the driver allegedly sped away in an attempt to evade the patrol team.

The officers then gave chase.

During the pursuit, Corporal Louis allegedly opened fire at the vehicle. A bullet reportedly struck the driver, identified as Anthony A. Obodo, inflicting a gunshot injury.

Obodo was immediately rushed to Palmer’s Hospital in Port Harcourt, where he was attended to by medical personnel but was later pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.

Following the incident, three members of the patrol team were arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Port Harcourt, for investigation.

Inspector Nwrogu, however, allegedly absconded and subsequently became the subject of an intensified search by the command.

The police commissioner said efforts were ongoing to locate and arrest the inspector, who has now been formally declared a deserter.

Adepoju’s disclosure comes amid heightened public concern over the conduct of police personnel and the use of firearms during routine operations.

He reiterated that the command would not tolerate misconduct, abuse of power or actions capable of undermining public confidence in the police.

Meanwhile, the command has announced the arrest of 14 suspects allegedly involved in one-chance robbery operations across Port Harcourt and its environs.

The arrests followed what the commissioner described as sustained intelligence-led operations by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, in response to incessant reports of one-chance robberies within the metropolis.

The commissioner said that on August 18, 2026, at about 2:45am, operatives of the VCRU stormed a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt, where they arrested Nelson Idakiniseleg ha, 30, also known as Mandela.

Nelson, who hails from Nkoro Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, allegedly confessed during interrogation to being a member of a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate. He also allegedly provided information about another four-man syndicate operating around Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba areas.

Following the information, the police arrested Michael Matthew, 29, also known as Pilot, at about 10:30pm on August 23.

Matthew was identified by the police as a member of the Iceland cult group and alleged ring leader of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road.

The command also arrested Kelly Edison, 30, alias BTC, and Daniel Obodo, 18, alias Mazi, at their respective hideouts in connection with the alleged one-chance robbery syndicates.

The police said the suspects confessed to involvement in the criminal activities.

Investigation, according to the command, further revealed that Nelson allegedly specialised in extracting SIM cards from victims after robberies and using them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.

On August 24, at about 1:20pm, operatives arrested Chisom Unegbu, 28, also known as Favour, in a hotel along Aker Road, Port Harcourt.

Unegbu was identified as the alleged driver for one of the syndicates.

The police also recovered a black-and-white Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE, which was allegedly used for the criminal operations.

Sixteen assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims were also recovered.

The command said investigations into other one-chance robbery syndicates were ongoing, with a total of 14 suspects currently in custody in connection with the crime.

The police said efforts were being intensified to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates, dismantle their networks, trace victims and recover proceeds of crime.

Adepoju said the command would not relent in its efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related activities and other violent crimes across the state. He said any suspect found culpable after thorough investigation would be charged to court.

The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles and criminal activities to the police through appropriate channels. He cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, urging them instead to alert the police and allow due process to take its course.

Adepoju reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, transparency, respect for human rights and the protection of lives and property across Rivers State.