The Rivers State Police Command wields the big stick by dismissing officers found culpable in armed robbery and kidnapping cases
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
After painstaking investigations into cases involving serious criminal misconduct, conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing, extortion and abuse of office involving both serving and dismissed police personnel, the Rivers State Police Command has summarily dismissed the culpable officer within the state and other parts of the country.
Tentacle learnt that through diligent investigations, the Command uncovered some criminal networks, effected arrests, recovered exhibits and initiated disciplinary, as well as criminal proceedings against all the officers found culpable.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Anthony Okon Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) made this known at a media briefing while parading eight police officers on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the force headquarters, Moscow Road in Port Harcourt Rivers State.
This case involves serving police officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, who were alleged to have operated an illegal patrol and extortion syndicate in Rivers State.
He told newsmen that on February 3, 2026, one Festus Saturday reported that he was unlawfully intercepted, abducted and robbed by armed police officers operating under the guise of stop-and-search duties along Igbo Etche Road, Port Harcourt.
Investigations also revealed that on November 3, 2025, the victim, in company of his cousin in his Lexus RX 350 Jeep, was stopped by a six-man police team operating in a Toyota Sienna bus. While no incriminating item was found during the search, the officers however, allegedly detained and assaulted the complainant, compelled him to unlock his mobile phones, thereby gaining access to his banking and cryptocurrency applications.
The officers subsequently abducted the complainant and his cousin to an unknown location, where they forcefully transferred ₦4,500,000 from his Opay account and USD1,742 from his cryptocurrency wallet. Investigation established that the total amount unlawfully obtained from the victim amounted to ₦7,338,800.00.
The Force Spokesperson listed the names of the three police officers arrested in connection with the first case as: AP/NO. 211108, Inspector Ayanniyi Jelili 44, AP/NO. 334201 Inspector Durojaiye Francis 44 and AP/NO. 356880 Inspector Olayemi Titus 45, all male.
A manhunt is actively underway for the three fleeing suspects namely: AP/NO. 305615 Inspector Awele Ogbogu, AP/NO. 378381 Inspector Prosper Aghotor and F/NO. 357539 Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa all male. Exhibits recovered include three Toyota Sienna Space Buses and N7,338,800.
The suspects admitted to operating an illegal patrol and extortion syndicate alongside three other officers now at large identified as AP/NO. 305615 Inspector Awele Ogbogu, AP/NO. 378381 Inspector Prosper Aghotor and F/NO.357539 Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa, all male.
Further investigation established that the suspects were armed with AK-47 rifles during their operations and had engaged in similar criminal activities against several unsuspecting citizens within Rivers State using the same modus operandi.
Consequently, a prime facie case of conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping has been established against the suspects. The arrested officers are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures and will be charged to court accordingly, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects” DCP Placid said.
In the second case, five officers attached to the Operations Department of Rivers Police Command were arrested for the same offences include: AP/NO. 304883 Inspector John Okoi, AP/NO. 305575 Inspector Eyibo Asuquo 41, AP/NO. 386735 Inspector Udo Ndipmong 38, AP/NO. 334605 Inspector Bright Nwachukwu 43 and AP/NO. 357283 Inspector Anele Ikechukwu 36, all male.
The matter arose from petitions submitted to the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of multiple victims, who alleged that they were unlawfully abducted, assaulted, extorted and dispossessed of their valuables by armed policemen operating under the guise of official patrol duties.
Investigation revealed that the suspects, while armed and operating in minibuses within Port Harcourt and its environs, routinely intercepted unsuspecting citizens during illegal stop and search operations, in the process forcefully seized their phones, coerced them into revealing banking details and PINs, and unlawfully transferred funds from their bank and cryptocurrency accounts.
Further findings established that on separate occasions between September 2025 and January 2026, the syndicate abducted victims from various locations within Rivers State, transported them to isolated locations, assaulted them, and forcefully extorted huge sums of money and valuables from them.
One of the victims, Mr. Felix Favour, on 30th September 2025, was dispossessed of USD $4,000) from his cryptocurrency wallet and ₦940,000 from his bank account after being abducted at gunpoint along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
Another victim, Mr. Okparaocha David Ugochukwu was abducted on September 2, 2025 and extorted to the tune of ₦1,300,000, while his gold jewelry and wristwatch valued at over N6,000,000 were stolen by the suspects.
Similarly, another victim, Mr. John Godstime, was abducted along NTA Road, Port Harcourt on January 26, 2026, assaulted and dispossessed of ₦1,500,000 after the suspects forcefully obtained his ATM details and PIN.
The suspects presented themselves as operatives of Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, during their criminal operations in order to intimidate victims and evade suspicion.
Investigation also revealed that the suspects operated as a criminal syndicate while being attached to the DOPS Patrol Team, Rivers State Command. The officers admitted during interrogation to have routinely collected unlawful returns from members of the public and drug dealers during their patrol operations.
Findings also showed that supervisory failures and complicity by certain superior officers who failed to enforce directives prohibiting the use of minibuses for patrol operations, thereby enabling the criminal activities of the syndicate.
Consequently, the five officers were subjected to orderly room proceedings and have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force. A prime facie case of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, official corruption and extortion has been established against the dismissed officers, while the case file has been forwarded for prosecution.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to assure members of the public that the actions of the dismissed officers do not represent the values, ethics and professional standards of the Force. Its gallant men and officers remain committed to accountability, discipline, transparency and the protection of citizens’ rights,” (DCP) Placid concluded.
