Nigeria Police Force has announced the dismissal, arrest and prosecution of officers allegedly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion and other criminal activities in Rivers State.
The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official page of the Nigeria Police Force on May 14, 2026.
According to the statement, the affected officers were linked to cases involving conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and unlawful operations carried out within Rivers State and surrounding areas.
Investigations uncovered a syndicate involving officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, identified as Inspectors Ayanniyi Jelili, Durojaye Francis and Olayemi Titus.
The Force alleged that the officers engaged in illegal stop-and-search operations in Port Harcourt where victims were reportedly abducted and forced to transfer money from their bank and cryptocurrency accounts.
According to the statement, three other officers identified as Inspector Awele Ogbogu, Inspector Prosper Aghotor and Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa are currently at large.
Investigators recovered three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly used for the operations, alongside N7,338,800 allegedly linked to the operations.
In a separate case, the Force also identified another group of officers formerly attached to the Department of Operations, Rivers State Command, over alleged acts of kidnapping, extortion and official corruption.
The officers identified as Inspectors John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu and Anele Ikechukwu were dismissed after internal disciplinary proceedings, while the matter was forwarded for prosecution.
“The leadership of the Force under the Inspector-General of Police remains resolute in its determination to identify, expose, and remove criminal elements from within the institution,” the statement read.