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The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five police inspectors and arrested three others over alleged involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion, and abuse of office in Rivers State, in what authorities described as the outcome of “painstaking investigations” into criminal activities carried out by officers operating under the guise of official patrol duties.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed the development while parading eight police officers at the Rivers State Police Headquarters in Moscow, Port Harcourt.
Officers Accused of Running Illegal Patrol Syndicate
According to the police, three inspectors attached to Zone 16 Police Headquarters were arrested following investigations into allegations that officers used illegal stop-and-search operations to abduct and extort civilians.
The officers identified were:
- Inspector Ayanniyi Jelil, 44
- Inspector Durojaye Francis, 44
- Inspector Olayemi Titus, 45
Police said exhibits recovered included three Toyota Sienna buses and ₦7.3 million allegedly linked to the operation.
Investigators alleged that the suspects unlawfully intercepted a victim, Festus Saturday, along Igbo Etche Road in Port Harcourt in November 2025, assaulted him and his cousin, forced them to unlock their mobile phones, and transferred money from both banking and cryptocurrency accounts.
The police said the suspects allegedly stole ₦4.5 million from the victim’s Opay account and $1,742 from a cryptocurrency wallet, bringing the total amount allegedly extorted to ₦7,338,800.
Authorities further alleged that the officers confessed to operating an illegal patrol and extortion syndicate alongside three other officers currently at large.
Five Officers Dismissed
In a separate but related case, five inspectors attached to the Operations Department of the Rivers State Police Command were dismissed after investigations linked them to alleged kidnapping and extortion operations across Port Harcourt and surrounding areas.
The dismissed officers were identified as:
- Inspector John Okoi
- Inspector Eyibo Asuquo
- Inspector Udo Ndipmong
- Inspector Bright Nwachukwu
- Inspector Anele Ikechukwu
The police said petitions filed by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation triggered investigations into complaints by victims who alleged they were abducted, assaulted, and robbed by armed policemen posing as patrol officers.
Investigators alleged that the officers routinely intercepted citizens, seized phones, forced victims to reveal banking details and PINs, and transferred funds from bank and cryptocurrency accounts.
Among the cases cited by police was that of a victim allegedly dispossessed of $4,000 and ₦940,000 after being abducted along Aba Road, Port Harcourt. Another victim reportedly lost ₦1.3 million as well as gold jewellery and a wristwatch valued at over ₦6 million.
Legal and Institutional Concerns
Police authorities stated that investigations established a prima facie case of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, official corruption, and extortion against the officers.
DCP Placid also revealed that investigations uncovered “supervisory failures and complicity” by certain senior officers who allegedly failed to enforce directives prohibiting the use of minibuses for patrol operations, thereby enabling the activities of the syndicate.
The dismissed officers are expected to face prosecution, while efforts continue to apprehend suspects still at large.
Conclusion
The Nigeria Police Force said the conduct of the officers does not reflect the institution’s professional standards and reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, discipline, transparency, and the protection of citizens’ rights