Police Dismiss Five Inspectors Over Kidnap, Robbery Syndicate in Rivers

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five inspectors linked to an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate accused of terrorising residents of Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.

Police authorities also confirmed the arrest of three other inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, over related offences, while three additional suspects remain at large.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, disclosed this on Thursday while parading the suspects at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

According to him, investigations uncovered a network of serving police officers allegedly involved in conspiracy, kidnapping, extortion, stealing and abuse of office.

Placid said the suspects operated mainly with Toyota Sienna vehicles, which they used for illegal patrols, abductions and extortion of victims across Rivers State.

He explained that the officers would allegedly stop unsuspecting residents under the guise of routine stop-and-search operations, seize their mobile phones, obtain banking details and transfer money from victims’ accounts, including cryptocurrency wallets.

“Today’s briefing highlights the outcome of painstaking investigations into cases involving serious criminal misconduct perpetrated by certain police personnel,” he said.

“These investigations underscore the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to accountability, discipline and the ongoing cleansing of the Force of corruption and criminality.”

The dismissed officers attached to the Rivers State Police Command were identified as Inspectors John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu and Anele Ikechukwu.

Placid said the five officers had already undergone orderly room trial procedures and were subsequently dismissed from service.

He added that investigations also revealed lapses by some senior officers who allegedly failed to enforce directives banning the use of minibuses for patrol duties, thereby allowing the criminal activities to continue unchecked.

On the three inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, the police spokesman said their arrest followed petitions submitted by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of victims.

The arrested officers were identified as Ayanniyi Jelili, Durojaye Francis and Olayemi Titus.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly abducted victims from different locations in Rivers State between September 2025 and January 2026, assaulted them and extorted huge sums of money.

One of the reported incidents involved a complainant, Festus Saturday, who alleged that he and his cousin were intercepted along Igbo Etche Road in Port Harcourt by armed policemen operating in a Toyota Sienna vehicle.

Police said the officers allegedly forced the victims to unlock their mobile phones before transferring ₦4.5 million from an Opay account and $1,742 from a cryptocurrency wallet.

Investigators said the total amount traced to the operation stood at ₦7.3 million.

Placid disclosed that the suspects admitted operating an illegal patrol and extortion syndicate with three other officers currently on the run.

He said three Toyota Sienna buses and ₦7,338,800 were recovered during the investigation.

Further findings, according to the police, showed that the suspects allegedly carried AK-47 rifles during their operations and had used the same method against several victims within the state.

The police spokesman assured Nigerians that disciplinary and criminal proceedings had commenced against those involved.

“The actions of these dismissed officers do not represent the values and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force,” Placid said.

He reiterated the Force’s commitment to accountability, transparency and protection of citizens’ rights.