By Ayodele Oni
In continuation of efforts to rid the Nigeria Police Force of misconduct, five inspectors have been dismissed and criminal prosecution initiated against them over allegations of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and other acts of professional misconduct in Rivers State.
Police also revealed that three inspectors and one corporal attached to the Zone 16 Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, who were allegedly involved in similar criminal activities, are currently on the run.
The development is said to be part of the ongoing reform drive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and misconduct within the Force.
Announcing the action in a statement on Friday, Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, said the Force remains committed to discipline, accountability, and institutional reform.
“The Force notes that the actions of the affected officers represent a gross betrayal of the ethics, standards, and professional values of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement read.
Police investigations reportedly uncovered a criminal syndicate involving serving officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, including Inspectors Ayanniyi Jelili, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus.
The officers were accused of carrying out armed robbery, kidnapping, and extortion while allegedly conducting illegal patrol operations within Port Harcourt and nearby communities.
According to the police, victims were allegedly abducted during unlawful stop-and-search operations, after which the officers forcefully accessed their banking and cryptocurrency applications to extort millions of naira.
It added that investigation led to the arrest of three officers, while other alleged accomplices identified as Inspector Awele Ogbogu, Inspector Prosper Aghotor, and Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa remain at large.
Police also disclosed that exhibits recovered from the suspects included three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly used for the illegal operations, alongside N7.3 million believed to have been linked to the criminal activities.
Investigators further alleged that the suspects operated with firearms and had carried out similar operations against unsuspecting residents across Rivers State.
In a separate investigation, the police uncovered another alleged criminal syndicate involving officers formerly attached to the Department of Operations, Rivers State Command.
The officers — Inspectors John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu — were accused of organised kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and official corruption.
“Consequently, the five implicated officers were subjected to orderly room proceedings and dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, while the case file has been forwarded for prosecution on charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, official corruption, and related offences,” the statement added.
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