The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has formally rejected the Nigeria Police Force’s preliminary response to the extrajudicial killing of Mr Mene Ogidi, labelling the dismissal of a single officer as “grossly insufficient.”
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the advocacy group called for a complete overhaul of the investigation into the April 26 incident, alleging a potential cover-up and a lack of transparency regarding the other personnel involved.
While Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has directed the dismissal and prosecution of ASP Nuhu Usman, RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, argues that the police are shielding other culpable parties.
“The police statement mentions ‘other officers’ found culpable without disclosing their names, ranks, or specific roles,” Nwanguma stated. “This lack of transparency raises serious questions and fuels public suspicion of a potential cover-up. The Nigerian public has a right to know who these officers are and why their identities are being shielded.”
RULAAC pointed to several gaps in the official police narrative, including the presence of non-police actors at the scene. Reports suggest that two members of a local vigilante group were active participants in the operation that led to Mr Ogidi’s death. Furthermore, a conflict has emerged regarding when the killing actually took place; while official police records cite April 26, eyewitness accounts suggest the incident occurred a day earlier, on Sunday, April 25.
“These discrepancies underscore the urgent need for an independent and transparent investigation to establish the facts and timeline,” the statement read.
RULAAC is now pushing for the doctrine of Command Responsibility to be applied, calling for the suspension and investigation of the Delta State police hierarchy, including the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police overseeing the zone.
“It is unacceptable for senior officers to evade scrutiny when such grave violations occur under their watch,” Nwanguma added, noting that routine dismissals have become a “public relations exercise” rather than a genuine accountability mechanism.
To restore public trust, RULAAC has issued a series of demands to the Federal Government and the Police Service Commission. The group insists on the full disclosure of the identities and ranks of all involved, followed by an independent inquiry involving civil society to ensure impartiality.
Additionally, the group is calling for the immediate suspension of senior supervisory officers and the implementation of a public tracking system for the prosecution process. This would include regular updates to prevent the case from being quietly abandoned. RULAAC further demanded robust protection for witnesses and a deeper probe into allegations linking the incident to wider illicit arms activities.
The advocacy group warned that if the prosecution is not followed through with total transparency, it will only embolden further criminal conduct within the Force.
“Justice must not only be promised—it must be pursued diligently and seen to be done. Anything short of this will reinforce the cycle of impunity that continues to undermine the rule of law in Nigeria,” the Executive Director concluded.
