The Imo State Police Command has dismissed three officers for their alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, and car snatching.

The dismissed officers—Sgt. Ekwueme Gift, Sgt. Eto Ikechukwu, and Cpl. Divine Ogwuaru—were found guilty after an orderly room trial that also established charges of impersonation.

A civilian accomplice, Elias Chukwu, who allegedly served as the driver during the operation, has been charged alongside the officers.

According to police sources, the suspects carried out the crime on February 8, 2026, along Mbaise Road in Owerri, where they reportedly robbed residents at gunpoint and snatched a vehicle. The stolen vehicle was later tracked to the Owerri-Onitsha Road as the suspects allegedly attempted to dispose of it before their arrest.

Investigations revealed that the officers were not officially assigned for patrol on the day of the incident and falsely posed as members of the Command’s Tiger Base Unit while committing the crime.

The offences were said to contravene provisions of the Police Act and Regulation 370, punishable under Regulation 371 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, as amended.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for corruption and unprofessional conduct, directing the Legal Department to ensure the suspects are promptly arraigned in court.

“It will no longer be business as usual for erring officers in this command. Any officer found culpable of misconduct or criminality will face the full weight of the law,” he said.

Bosso also urged members of the public to provide credible information to help sanitise the system, assuring that other officers under investigation would face similar disciplinary action if found guilty.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, stated that the officers were swiftly apprehended, thoroughly investigated, and dismissed in line with existing regulations guiding personnel conduct. He added that the suspects would be charged to court to answer the allegations against them.

Okoye noted that the decisive action underscores the Command’s commitment to accountability, professionalism, and restoring public confidence. He further encouraged residents to report cases of police misconduct through the Complaint Response Unit Desk line: 08148024755, assuring strict confidentiality for all reports.