The Imo State Police Command has demoted Sergeant Anayo Ekezie to the rank of Corporal after a video surfaced showing him assaulting a middle-aged man with a smoke gunner along the Owerri–Aba Road. Two supervising officers, Inspectors Ofem Obongha and Obinna Okereke of the Safer Highway Unit, were also severely reprimanded for failing to prevent the misconduct, the command announced Thursday.
Police Public Relations Officer DSP Henry Okoye confirmed the disciplinary measures in a statement, noting the officers faced an orderly room trial following the viral footage of the incident. “Corporal Ekezie was found guilty of unprofessional conduct, while Inspectors Obongha and Okereke were sanctioned for inadequate supervision,” Okoye stated.
Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma condemned the officers’ actions as a violation of the Nigeria Police Force’s ethical standards and human rights protocols. He reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance toward misconduct, pledging swift penalties for offenders.
Okoye urged residents to report abuses via the Complaints Response Unit, X-Squad Unit, or dedicated hotlines (08033424051, 08148024755), reaffirming the command’s commitment to professionalism and citizen rights.
