IGP Orders Dismissal And Criminal Prosecution Of ASP Nuhu Usman And Officers Over Effurun Killing Of Mene Ogidi — Charges: Unlawful Homicide

NPF

Just in seventy-two (72)  hours following footage that spread fast online - showing a police bullet take the life of a 28-year-old in Effurun - the top police acted unlike any moment before in recent memory. Not waiting weeks, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu 

gave approval: one ASP named Nuhu Usman gets fired, plus every officer tied to Mene Ogidi's unlawful death on April 26, 2026 faces court. Behind closed doors, the disciplinary panel finished their look into it. Their decision now sits with the Police Service Commission, awaiting official sign-off. Once the paperwork finishes, those fired officers go straight into court on murder charges. Not moved somewhere else. Not waiting at home. Fired they are, then charged too. Could mark real change in how Nigeria polices its police. Or maybe just looks like change, best show of justice lately. Truth comes out only when judges speak

What caught attention here was how fast things moved. Usually, Nigerian police accountability drags on without resolution. But this time felt different from the start. A man named Mene Ogidi died by gunfire on Sunday, April 26. Two days later, every officer tied to the event was pulled out of Delta State Command and sent to Force HQ in Abuja. Then, by Wednesday the 29th - only three days after the shooting - findings were already finalized. The top cop signed off on actions needed. News came out that same day: those responsible would be fired and face court

Wednesday brought reporters crowding into Force HQ in Abuja, where IGP Disu spoke without hesitation. Not one word left room for misunderstanding. What took place, he stated flatly, broke the law, showed terrible judgment, yet found its way into police conduct. ASP Usman, according to him, violated the promise every officer makes upon joining. Proof arrived through findings - both from internal discipline panels and military-style hearings focused on lower-ranking participants - that termination plus court action stood as necessary outcomes. Once removed from duty, those dismissed would shift straight into custody of legal bodies dealing with wrongful death cases. A line followed that may shape what comes next: accountability now applies to everyone wearing a badge, no exceptions written anywhere. Behind closed doors or out in public view, consequences wait

A detailed confirmation came through DCP Anthony Okon Placid, speaking officially for the Force. Beyond doubt, according to the disciplinary panel, ASP Nuhu Usman broke Force Order 237 along with firearm rules. His conduct was labeled illegal, out of line with standards, and a direct breach of duty to safeguard lives. While senior officers appeared before the internal review body, consequences followed swiftly. Three inspectors from the same unit faced judgment in an administrative hearing. Each one carried responsibility, the outcome left no room for debate.

After the IGP sent the removal proposals to the Police Service Commission, approval must come next - it's required by the constitution whenever senior officers face dismissal. Even though this move is just routine paperwork, everyone expects things to keep moving without long pauses. Only after the green light arrives will the case shift toward court action for serious legal consequences. Facing charges of unlawful killing means jail time under Nigeria’s rules, should proof support conviction.

Mene Ogidi turned 28 not long ago. That Sunday morning - April 26 - he got grabbed by transport union guys at Benin Motor Park, right off the Warri-Sapele road in Effurun, accused of trying to ship a package holding a Beretta gun plus four bullets. Cops from Effurun Area Command showed up, took control, hauled him away under legal arrest. After that came footage, recorded somehow, spreading fast online, popping up everywhere across Nigeria and beyond through social networks worldwide.

A man named Ogidi appeared in a recording, seated on the floor, wrists bound behind him - unable to move, held down, posing no danger to any officer nearby. Then came ASP Nuhu Usman, stepping forward as head of the group, pulling the trigger from just inches away. There was no escape attempt by the detained person. Violence wasn’t happening from his position. His body remained still, planted firmly on the surface beneath him. What he did about the weapon mattered less than the act itself. Not one rule in Nigeria's legal code, not a single directive guiding officers, nor even Force Order 237 gave permission for Usman’s choice. A man already under control lost his life by gunshot. The footage holds that truth plainly. Now the internal review within the force agrees - it says so in their report

IGP Disu extended condolences directly to the family of Mene Ogidi in both his press conference remarks and the official Force statement. "The IGP extends his deepest and most solemn condolences to the family of the deceased, Mr Mene Ogidi. He acknowledges the pain and loss suffered and assures the family that this tragic incident will not be treated lightly. The Force is fully committed to ensuring that justice is not only served but seen to be served, in a manner that reinforces public confidence and institutional accountability."

Right there at the podium, he pledged straight to the family: “What happens to Mene Ogidi will be fast, clear, because it must be.” Still nothing official from Mene Ogidi’s relatives since the police chief spoke - just silence so far. A young man, twenty-eight years old, gone now, shot down by someone wearing a badge that didn’t give them power to decide life or death. Kind phrases from the very group that let this happen might feel like something - but they do not fix what broke. Real fairness here means one thing only: a guilty verdict, said out loud where everyone can hear it. He set a clear mark for himself in front of everyone. Eyes across Nigeria wait to see if he clears it

After news spread about Mene Ogidi's death, activist Omoyele Sowore quickly spoke up. Not just one officer caught his attention - it was the whole system behind such violence. Instead of focusing only on ASP Usman, he pushed harder, aiming at those above him. He believed killings like this stem from deeper patterns inside police leadership. A culture exists, he argued, where abuse thrives under silent approval. On X, Sowore made it clear: removing Usman alone wouldn’t fix what’s broken. The head officers in Delta State’s force needed to go without delay. Accountability meant sweeping changes, not isolated arrests. His message stayed sharp, urgent, focused

So far, the top cop’s move stands out more than what many across Nigeria thought they’d see - firing one officer plus pushing charges for killing someone unlawfully shows how serious it could get under internal rules. Still, those running the Delta State police force stayed in place, no sign yet of anyone punishing the local boss, the state commissioner, or others higher up there. That setting where ASP Usman acted like he did - will that be looked into too? Or only the ones caught on video take the fall? The head of police didn’t make that clear when speaking.

Outrage followed the shooting in Effurun. How the police chief reacted now shapes a bigger conversation. Since demonstrators filled streets after EndSARS two years ago, people keep wondering one thing. Real change or just show? Will those who guard power ever answer for their actions openly, clearly, meaningfully? Arrests happen. Officials speak. Then silence returns when attention fades elsewhere

What stands out is how fast this reaction came, rare for Nigeria. Instead of soft words, the police chief used sharp ones like “unlawful homicide,” “betrayal,” and declared that getting away with abuse has ended. What matters most? They are pushing for jail time through courts, not just firing someone. While plenty of officers have lost jobs after wrongdoing, only a few have actually faced trial and served prison sentences

Here lies the distance between words and real fairness. Firing Officer Usman along with others marks a proper start. What comes next - criminal charges - will show if this moment sticks as a turning point against unlawful shootings by police. Or it might just sink into the pile of past cases: loud anger, official comments, then silence. Power stays untouched. Officers keep acting above the law

Only after the Police Service Commission approves the dismissals will justice begin to move. Each moment lost in paperwork adds more weight on shoulders already heavy with grief. When approval comes, passing evidence to prosecutors needs no whispering behind closed doors. What happens next should unfold under open light, plain for everyone. The relatives of Mene Ogodi deserve clear sightlines into what follows. So do others watching from Effurun, from cities, from villages far away. Visibility matters most when trust has worn thin. Let facts walk forward where secrecy once stood guard.

A real effort has to come from prosecutors. Courts in Nigeria already hold power to find a police officer guilty of illegal killing. Video proof exists here, along with witness accounts, plus a documented ruling by the Force Disciplinary Committee, also a recorded breach of Force Order 237 - rarely do so many facts line up. Should things stall anyway, or charges slowly disappear while eyes look elsewhere, trust takes damage beyond any speech by an inspector general

Fast work by the IGP here. In just three days: dismissal, a call for charges, then straight to the media. Not typical for Nigeria, especially when it comes to holding officers accountable. Fair enough, they deserve recognition. Speed like that stands out

Here’s the truth though - saying things sounds simple. Talking to reporters feels simple too. What weighs heavy comes later, when ASP Nuhu Usman stands inside a courtroom in Nigeria, accused of killing someone without legal cause. Then we’ll see how deep the pursuit goes. Maybe the judge won’t bend. Perhaps guilt arrives - followed by punishment that lands like weight, not whisper

Mene Ogidi sat still, hands bound behind him. A bullet found him up close. His relatives remain silent, watching time pass. So do others in Effurun, holding breath between moments. Even those across Nigeria who saw the footage stay fixed in place - eyes open. Not chasing speeches or promises tossed into air. What matters? One real outcome. Only then might some cop pause before lifting a weapon toward someone helpless. Just one solid result could shift how things unfold next time