Akwa Ibom: Two police inspectors demoted for assaulting pregnant woman

The Nigeria Police has taken swift action against three officers found guilty of professional misconduct, following a viral video footage.

The incident occurred on February 1, 2025, when the officers were seen dragging a pregnant woman to the ground for not possessing a Third Party Insurance.

Initially, DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Akwa Ibom State Command, in statement, condemned the incident but claimed the woman overreacted after being stopped for contravening traffic regulations.

However, Diaspora Digital Media has gathered that after a thorough investigation and an orderly room trial, Inspectors Festus James, Edet Edem, and Constable Akpan Lawrence were found guilty of Discreditable Conduct and Unlawful and Unnecessary Exercise of Authority.

Inspectors Festus James and Edet Edem were reduced in rank to Sergeants, while Constable Akpan Lawrence was given a major entry and placed on one month’s extra fatigue duty.

A Major Entry refers to a formal record of the infraction being made in the officer’s service file, which can impact their career advancement and future deployments.

Extra Fatigue Duty involves assigning the officer additional duties, such as cleaning, maintenance, or other tasks, for a specified period, in this case, one month.

Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare, who recently assumed duty as the 34th Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom Command, upheld the judgment and sent the proceedings to the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Zone Six for review.

The AIG also upheld the outcome of the proceedings.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has reassured the public that it remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring officers conduct themselves with professionalism.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has arrested four individuals, including a native doctor and a teenage girl, for their alleged involvement in the ritual killing of two seven-year-old siblings, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche.

According to the police, the children were drugged and killed at the Ogbodo Pipeline area of Rukpokwu in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The prime suspect, 27-year-old Aniekan Uko, confessed to luring the children to an uncompleted building, drugging them, and then killing them.

He also drained their blood, which was found in a bottle during the arrest. Uko claimed he got involved in ritual killings after visiting a native doctor.

The police recovered several pieces of evidence, including a kitchen knife used for the murder, an empty can of Black Bullet used to drug the victims, and a spoon used to collect their blood.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured the public that the suspects would face justice and urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

A lawyer helping with the investigation, Linda Ojims, praised the police for arresting the suspects and emphasized the importance of a proper trial to ensure justice is served.

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