By Peter Omopo
The Imo State Police Command has taken disciplinary action against three officers involved in the assault of a road user along the Owerri-Aba Expressway, demoting one and reprimanding two others.
Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye, in a statement issued Wednesday night, confirmed that Sergeant Anayo Ekezie had been demoted to the rank of Corporal for using a smoke gunner to assault a traveller during a stop-and-search operation.
The incident, which occurred along the busy Owerri-Aba highway, sparked public outrage after a video showing the assault went viral on social media.
According to Okoye, two other officers—Inspector Ofem Obongha and Inspector Obinna Okereke—were also sanctioned for failing to exercise proper supervisory control during the operation. Both have been formally reprimanded by the command.
“All three officers, attached to the Safer Highway Unit, were found to have breached the Nigeria Police Force code of conduct and human rights standards,” Okoye said.
He assured the public that the command remains committed to upholding professionalism and would not tolerate any form of misconduct by its personnel.
