UNIPORT graduate: Father alleges policemen left NBA duty post before son’s killing

Family and friends of 22-year-old University of Port Harcourt graduate Anthony Obodo returned to the streets of Port Harcourt on Tuesday, demanding justice over his alleged killing by police. Their protest at the Ada George-Agip junction entered its third day, following the shooting there last Thursday.

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We are saddened by the sudden death of our brother, Master Anthony Obodo, who was killed on Thursday, 27th August 2026. The police flagged Anthony down and a blood-thirsty officer met the young boy and shot him thrice. He was later confirmed dead.

Obodo was reportedly driving a private car when officers at a checkpoint allegedly flagged him down for failing to stop. The officers reportedly chased the vehicle, and one of them allegedly fired three shots in Obodo’s direction. A bullet struck him inside the car. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer Blessing Agabe identified the alleged shooter as Corporal Alfred Louis and said Louis and other officers involved had been arrested. Police said youths attacked Louis after the shooting, took his rifle, and that other operatives later rescued him and recovered the weapon.

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We are therefore calling on the Rivers State Government, the Inspector-General of Police and civil society to come to our aid and seek justice for our brother, Master Anthony Obodo. We demand justice now.

The protesters carried placards calling for justice and accusing the police of failing to protect residents. Speaking for the demonstrators, Charles Chukwu called on the Rivers State Government, police authorities, the state’s Chief Judge, the Inspector-General of Police and civil society groups to intervene. He also urged police authorities to publicly parade the officer accused of firing the fatal shot, saying that would reassure the family and wider public that the suspect was not being protected.

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The police will never cover anybody. Since that day, they have been arrested and handcuffed. I have been talking to the father. All those people have been detained.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju appealed for calm and condemned the conduct of the officers involved. He said the police would not cover for anyone found responsible and that the officers had been arrested, handcuffed and detained. Obodo’s father, Princewill Obodo, meanwhile alleged that his son had been targeted and killed, and said he was told by the Divisional Police Officer that the policemen involved had been deployed to a duty post at a Nigerian Bar Association conference before leaving it.

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In a crowd like this, everybody will be saying what they like. Somebody has been killed and we condemn it, and there has to be justice. People that did it would be shown as an example for others to stop.