The Imo State Police Command has dismissed three police officers over their alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and car theft along Mbaise Road in Owerri.
The dismissed officers are Sgt. Ekwueme Gift, Sgt. Eto Ikechukwu and Cpl. Divine Ogwuaru. Their termination followed an orderly room trial which found them guilty of the offences, including impersonation.
A civilian accomplice, identified as Elias Chukwu, who allegedly acted as the driver during the crime, has also been charged alongside the dismissed officers.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on February 8, 2026, along Mbaise Road in Owerri, where the suspects reportedly robbed residents at gunpoint and stole a vehicle. The stolen vehicle was later tracked to the Owerri–Onitsha Road while the suspects were allegedly attempting to dispose of it before their arrest.
Investigations revealed that the dismissed officers were not officially assigned to patrol duty on the day of the incident. They were also said to have falsely claimed to be members of the Tiger Base Unit of the Command while carrying out the criminal act.
The Command stated that their actions violated 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, Imo State Command, CP Audu Bosso, emphasized his administration’s zero-tolerance stance against corruption and unprofessional conduct. He directed the Command’s Legal Department to ensure that the suspects are promptly arraigned in court.
“It will no longer be business as usual for officers who misbehave in this Command. Any officer found guilty of misconduct or criminal activity will face the full force of the law,” Bosso stated.
He further encouraged members of the public to provide credible information to assist the Command in sanitizing the system, assuring that any officer found culpable in ongoing investigations would face appropriate disciplinary action.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, explained that the suspects were swiftly apprehended, thoroughly investigated and dismissed in accordance with existing laws governing the conduct of personnel in the Nigeria Police Force. He added that they will now face prosecution to answer the allegations in court.
Okoye said the action demonstrates the Command’s commitment to accountability, professionalism and restoring public confidence. He urged residents to report cases of police misconduct through the Complaint Response Unit Desk line: 08148024755, assuring that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality.
