The former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has condemned the extrajudicial killing of Mene Ogidi by a police officer identified as ASP Nuhu Usman in Effurun, Delta State.
ThelensNG reports that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Tuesday condemned the fatal shooting. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, ordered the immediate transfer of the officer and his team to Force Headquarters in Abuja, where they will face the Force Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary measures and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the incident on Wednesday, Obi described it as not only barbaric but also a grave violation of the rule of law.
“Over time, human society has moved away from an era when lives could be taken without consequence. Through the evolution of civilisation, a fundamental principle has emerged: no one should be punished or deprived of life without due process and a fair determination of guilt,” he said.
Obi noted that such acts inflict unimaginable trauma on the bereaved family and deepen public anxiety in what he described as an already distressed society.
“Nigerians are already traumatised by recurring reports of brutal killings by terror organisations across the country, and incidents of this nature – especially when involving state actors – only worsen that psychological burden and erode public confidence in safety and security,” he said.
While stating that the law must take its full course, Obi commended the prompt response of the police authorities so far and expressed confidence that they will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
He stressed that such responsiveness is necessary to reassure the public that justice will not be compromised and urged the police and all security agencies to sustain this approach by acting with transparency and accountability.
Obi further called for a more rigorous police recruitment process, ensuring that only individuals of sound judgment and the right frame of mind are entrusted with firearms.
These measures, he asserted, can restore public trust and uphold justice, adding that both factors are indispensable to building a new Nigeria.
