Police to probe ‘extrajudicial killings’ by officers in Anambra

The Nigeria Police have set up a panel to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings by three officers attached to the Anambra state command.

The accused officers are Patrick Agbazue, Nwode Nkeiruka, and Harrison Akama.

Agbazue is the officer-in-charge of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nkeiruka is the spokesperson of zone 13 headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, while Akama is a police inspector attached to RRS.

Over the past few days, several posts had been made on social media in which the officers were accused of allegedly masterminding killings and abductions in Anambra state.

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the accused officers have “reported” to the force headquarters in Abuja on the directive of Usman Baba, inspector-general of police.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has set up a special investigation panel under the IGP Monitoring and Mentoring Unit to commence investigations into some weighty allegations of unprofessionalism, high-handedness, and extra-judicial killings leveled against its officers serving at the Zone 13 Command, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and the Anambra State Command on social media platforms,” the statement reads.

“In light of the serious allegations leveled against the officers – CSP Patrick Agbazue, officer-in-charge of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anambra State Command; SP Nwode Nkeiruka, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and Inspector Harrison Akama attached to the RRS, they reported at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja today Friday 17th February 2023, on the directives of the IGP for commencement of investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegations for further necessary action, while the panel has been given a period of two weeks to come up with a report of investigations.”