In a major move against impunity, the Inspector-General of Police has recommended the Dismissal and prosecution of ASP Nuhu Usman and five others following the fatal shooting of a citizen in Delta State.
ABUJA — The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, has taken a firm stand against extra-judicial violence by recommending the immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution of six officers linked to the fatal shooting of Mene Ogidi in the Effurun area of Delta State.
The recommendation follows a swift internal investigation into the April 26 incident, which the police chief characterized as a criminal and unprofessional betrayal of the force’s fundamental oath.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Inspector-General identified the lead officer as Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman. The recommended disciplinary actions also extend to five other team members, including two superintendents and three inspectors. Disu emphasized that wearing a uniform does not grant a license to kill and stated that the actions of the officers have no place in a modern police force.
The investigation confirmed that ASP Usman acted in gross violation of Force Order 237, which strictly governs the use of firearms. The Inspector-General noted that the findings were unambiguous, asserting that no level of criminal suspicion against a citizen justifies the transition from law enforcement to extra-judicial killing. He reiterated that the primary duty of the police is the protection of life, rather than its extinguishment.
The Force Disciplinary Committee and the Orderly Room Tribunal, which have been in session since the officers were transferred to Abuja, reached a consensus on the severity of the misconduct.
Once the Police Service Commission provides final constitutional ratification for the dismissal, the former officers will be handed over to judicial authorities to face formal charges of unlawful homicide.
Extending his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, the Inspector-General pledged that the legal response would be swift, transparent, and absolute. He revealed that a high-level delegation, led by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, has already been dispatched to Delta State to meet with the victim’s family and provide support during this period.
In his concluding remarks, the Inspector-General appealed for calm across Delta State and the wider nation, urging citizens to trust the formal legal process rather than taking the law into their own hands. He declared that the era of impunity within the ranks has ended, and that the Nigeria Police Force will continue to purge itself of any individuals who betray their mandate to serve and protect the public.
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