Late Dr. Ikechukwu Obodo
The family of a Police Inspector, Dr. Ikechukwu Obodo, who was allegedly killed by a speeding convoy in Enugu State, has called for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for his death.
Dr. Obodo, a 45-year-old police officer and holder of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), reportedly lost his life on the night of July 5, 2026, after he was struck by a speeding convoy along Bisalla Road while on his way to his duty post.
According to family members, the deceased had spent the day with his wife and three children, carrying out his usual Sunday routine before leaving home at about 7pm for work.
Less than two hours later, the family received the devastating news that he had been involved in a fatal road accident.
His widow, Mrs. Ngozi Isiwu-Obodo, a radiographer at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, described her late husband as a hardworking man who made enormous sacrifices to attain academic excellence despite the limitations of his career.
“My brother, it was not easy,” she said while fighting back tears.
“You know that school requires money. His salary in the police was nothing, but we were managing. We made a decision to build our future, to gain more knowledge, and get good jobs. He was just promoted to the rank of inspector when he started his PhD.”
She lamented that despite earning a doctorate degree, her husband was unable to benefit from his educational qualifications within the Nigeria Police Force.
“The information he gave me was that the Nigerian Police does not recognize higher education or additional qualifications for promotion. They have to run ranks normally, just like every other person who didn’t go to school,” she revealed.
According to the family, Dr. Obodo had recently submitted his academic credentials following a police directive requesting officers with PhDs to present their certificates for evaluation.
However, they said the process had not been concluded before his untimely death.
Mrs. Ngozi recalled that around 9pm she received a phone call from her husband’s mobile phone.
Expecting to hear his voice, she was instead informed by a stranger that he had been involved in a serious accident.
A family member, who spoke anonymously, alleged that Dr. Obodo had just alighted from a commercial bus when a speeding convoy struck him and dragged his body for a considerable distance before fleeing the scene.
“The convoy hit him and dragged the body almost half a kilometre. The convoy did not stop, and it was a police convoy that we don’t know the person they were carrying,” the source alleged.
The family has also called on the authorities to utilise available surveillance technology to identify the vehicle involved.
“There is a control room that Governor Peter Mbah built with billions, with AI cameras around the whole city. We want to know the convoy that killed him,” the family source declared.
“The delay means that it is either the governor’s convoy that committed the crime or another top government official. This incident happened very close to Government House.”
Responding to the allegations, the Enugu State Police Command said there is currently no evidence linking any police convoy to the fatal accident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, stated:
“Losing a police officer or any other person in such circumstances is deeply disheartening and must be thoroughly investigated. However, there is no evidence establishing that a police convoy was involved in the fatal hit-and-run motor-pedestrian accident at this time.”
He assured that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The late Dr. Ikechukwu Obodo is survived by his wife and three young children.
His family continues to demand justice, insisting that those responsible for his death must be identified and prosecuted.
“He does not deserve this kind of life,” Mrs. Ngozi said emotionally.
“Why will somebody knock somebody down and run away without even taking him to the hospital? Why will somebody kill my husband?”
