Police dismiss, prosecuting officers involved in kidnapping, robbery, extortion

The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to discipline, accountability, and institutional reform with the dismissal, arrest, and prosecution of police personnel found involved in cases of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and abuse of office in Rivers State and its environs.

The Force Public Relations Officer and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Anthony Placid, made this known on Thursday.

Placid, in a statement he issued, said 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. 

He said the leadership of the Force under the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, remains resolute in its determination to identify, expose, and remove criminal elements from within the institution, irrespective of rank or position.

Investigations into one of the cases uncovered a criminal syndicate involving serving police officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Inspector Ayanniyi Jelili, Inspector Durojaye Francis, and Inspector Olayemi Titus allegedly engaged in armed robbery, kidnapping, and extortion while operating illegal patrols within Port Harcourt, the Bayelsa State capital.

The officers reportedly abducted victims during unlawful stop-and-search operations, forcefully gained access to their banking and cryptocurrency applications, and extorted millions of naira from them.

The investigation led to the arrest of the three officers, while three other accomplices identified as Inspector Awele Ogbogu, Inspector Prosper Aghotor, and Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa are currently at large. 

Exhibits recovered included three Toyota Sienna buses used for the illegal operations and the sum of ₦7,338,800.00 traced to the criminal activities. 

Findings further revealed that the suspects operated with firearms and had allegedly carried out similar operations against unsuspecting members of the public within Rivers State.

Also Read

• Maikaba pick assistants as U-20 resume camp
• Police dismiss, prosecuting officers involved in kidnapping, robbery, extortion
• IFC sending team to Nigeria for scalable investments
• Is Nigeria’s ship drifting toward the rocks again?, by Richard Odusanya
• DG of NIHOTOUR should be very careful, by Wale Ojo-Lanre

In a separate investigation, the Force uncovered another criminal syndicate involving officers formerly attached to the Department of Operations, Rivers State Police Command: Inspector John Okoi, Inspector Eyibo Asuquo, Inspector Udo Ndipmong, Inspector Bright Nwachukwu, and Inspector Anele Ikechukwu, who engaged in organised acts of kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and official corruption. 

The dismissed officers were found to have routinely abducted citizens, extorted money through unlawful transfers from victims’ bank and cryptocurrency accounts, and dispossessed them of valuables while operating under the guise of official patrol duties.

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.

Placid said: “Members of the public are encouraged to continue reporting cases of police misconduct, abuse of office, extortion, and human rights violations through established complaint channels for prompt investigation and action.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to a professional, transparent, accountable, and service-driven policing system firmly rooted in the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights.”

Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp

[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']