Imo State Police Command has dismissed three of its officers for their involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and car snatching in Owerri.
The dismissed officers were identified as Sgt. Ekwueme Gift, Sgt. Eto Ikechukwu and Cpl. Divine Ogwuaru. They were found guilty following an orderly room trial which established their culpability in the offences, including impersonation.
A civilian accomplice, identified as Elias Chukwu, who allegedly acted as the driver during the operation, has also been charged alongside the dismissed officers.
According to police sources, the suspects carried out the criminal act on February 8, 2026, along Mbaise Road in Owerri, where they reportedly robbed residents at gunpoint and snatched a vehicle. The stolen vehicle was later tracked to the Owerri–Onitsha Road as the suspects allegedly attempted to dispose of it before they were apprehended.
Investigations revealed that the officers were not officially assigned for patrol on the day of the incident. They were said to have falsely presented themselves as members of the Tiger Base Unit of the Command while perpetrating the crime.
The offences were found to be contrary to Paragraph E (i) and (iii) of the First Schedule of the Police Act and Regulation 370, punishable under Regulation 371 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, as amended.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Audu Bosso, reiterated the Command’s zero tolerance for corruption and unprofessional conduct, directing the Legal Department to ensure the immediate arraignment of the suspects in court.
“It will no longer be business as usual for erring officers in this command. Any officer found culpable of misconduct or criminality will face the full weight of the law,” Bosso stated.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the officers were swiftly apprehended, thoroughly investigated and summarily dismissed in line with extant laws guiding the conduct of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
Okoye added that the suspects would be charged to court to answer for the offences, stressing that the action underscores the Command’s commitment to accountability, professionalism and restoration of public confidence.
He urged residents to report cases of police misconduct through the Command’s Complaint Response Unit Desk line, assuring that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality. (NAN).
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