– says no uniform is a license to kill…
By Olawale Lamina
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of policemen involved in the shooting to death of a civilian, Mene Ogidi, in Effurun, Delta State.
The IGP, at a press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja described the development as “criminal, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable,” stating that what happened does not reflect the standards of the Nigeria Police Force.
IGP Disu identified Assistant Superintendent of Police, Nuhu Usman, as the officer at the centre of the incident, stressing that his actions run against established procedures and Force Order 247 governing the use of firearms.
“The officer at the centre of the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nuhu Usman, acted in gross violation of established procedures and Force Order 247 governing the use of firearms.
“Let me be clear: this action was criminal, it was unprofessional, and it has no place in the Nigeria Police Force,” Disu stated.
The IGP also informed that all officers involved were immediately transferred from the Delta State Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where they faced disciplinary procedures without delay.
“The Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), alongside the Orderly Room Tribunal, subsequently investigated the matter, with the proceedings confirming violations of operational procedures and unlawful conduct, ” he said.
The IGP equally revealed that both the FDC and the tribunal recommended the dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and others implicated in the matter, in addition to criminal prosecution for unlawful homicide.
He clarified further that, “Upon dismissal, all officers will be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities to face criminal charges for unlawful homicide”.
Disu added that the recommendations have been forwarded to the Police Service Commission for final ratification.While reiterating the force position, the IGP emphasised that the officers’ actions were personal breaches and did not reflect institutional standards.
“The NPF is an institution built on the rule of law, and we have zero tolerance for lawlessness within our ranks. No uniform is a license to kill,” he said.
He sympathized with the family of the deceased, Mene Ogidi, and assured them that justice would be administered in a fair manner.
The IGP therefore appealed for calm in Delta State and the country at large, advising against any form of self-help by the citizens, even as he assured of the Force’s commitment to accountability and reform.
The IGP stressed that, “The era of impunity is over. We are demonstrating that every citizen, regardless of their uniform, is accountable under the law.”
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