Police dismiss five Inspectors for armed robbery, kidnapping
May 15, 2026 12:00 am
File photo: Police officer
By Dennis Naku
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The Nigerian Police Force has busted an armed robbery, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy syndicate of serving policemen, numbering eight Inspectors, terrorising residents of Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.
The Police said of the eight Inspectors, five of them attached to the Rivers State Police Command have been dismissed after being subjected to orderly room procedures; while the three other Inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, who come to Rivers State to operate would face disciplinary action and be charged in court.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, who disclosed this while parading all eight suspects before newsmen at the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, on Thursday evening, said three other Inspectors linked to the crime are on the run.
Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the arrested police officers operate in Sienna cars with which they patrol, arrest and abduct victims, take them to isolated locations, force them to unlock their mobile phones and extort money running into several millions from them.
He stated, “Today’s briefing highlights the outcome of painstaking investigations into cases involving serious criminal misconduct, including conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing, extortion, and abuse of office perpetrated by certain police personnel and criminal elements operating within Rivers State and other parts of the country.
“These investigations underscore the firm commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to accountability, discipline, and the ongoing cleansing of the Force of all forms of corruption and criminality.
“These cases being presented today involve officers who abused the authority entrusted to them by engaging in acts completely inconsistent with the ethics, principles, professionalism, and core values of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Through intelligence-led operations and diligent investigations, the Force has successfully uncovered these criminal networks, effected arrests, recovered exhibits, and initiated disciplinary action as well as criminal proceedings against those found culpable.”
“This case relates to a series of criminal acts involving conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing, extortion, and official corruption perpetrated by serving police personnel attached to the Department of Operations, Rivers State Police Command, Port Harcourt.
He listed the names of the five dismissed Inspectors as John Okoi, aged 35, Eyibo Asuquo, 41, Udo Ndipmong, 38, Bright Nwachukwu, 43 and Anele Ikechukwu, 36.
“Findings also revealed supervisory failures and complicity by certain superior officers who failed to enforce directives prohibiting the use of minibuses for patrol operations, thereby enabling the criminal activities of the syndicate. Consequently, the five officers were subjected to orderly room proceedings and have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.
On the three other Inspectors, he said, “The matter arose from petitions submitted to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, by the ‘Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation’ on behalf of multiple victims who alleged that they were unlawfully abducted, assaulted, extorted, and dispossessed of their valuables by armed policemen operating under the guise of official patrol duties.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects, while armed and operating in minibuses within Port Harcourt and its environs, routinely intercepted unsuspecting citizens during illegal stop-and-search operations, in the process forcefully seized their phones, coerced them into revealing banking details and PINs, and unlawfully transferred funds from their bank and cryptocurrency accounts.
“Further findings established that on separate occasions between September 2025 and January 2026, the syndicate abducted victims from various locations within Rivers State, transported them to isolated locations, assaulted them, and forcefully extorted huge sums of money and valuables from them,” DCP Placid stated.
“Investigation further revealed that the suspects presented themselves as operatives of Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, during their criminal operations in order to intimidate victims and evade suspicion.”
The Force PRO gave the names of the three arrested Inspectors as Ayanniyi Jelili, aged 44, Durojaye Francis, 44 years, and Olayemi Titus, 45 years, while three Toyota Sienna Space Buses, Seven million, three hundred and thirty eight thousand, eight hundred naira only ₦7,338,800.00 were recovered from them.
“This case deals with a very serious incident of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and extortion involving serving police officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“The case was reported on 3rd February 2026 by one Festus Saturday, who alleged that he was unlawfully intercepted, abducted, and robbed by armed police officers operating under the guise of stop-and-search duties along Igbo Etche Road, Port Harcourt.
“Investigation revealed that on 3rd November 2025, the victim, while in the company of his cousin in his Lexus RX 350 Jeep, was stopped by a six-man police team operating in a Toyota Sienna bus. Although no incriminating item was found during the search, the officers allegedly detained and assaulted the complainant, forcing him to unlock his mobile phones, thereby gaining access to his banking and cryptocurrency applications.
“The officers subsequently abducted the complainant and his cousin to an unknown location, where they forcefully transferred the sum of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦4,500,000.00) from his Opay account and One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-Two United States Dollars ($1,742 USD) from his cryptocurrency wallet. Investigation established that the total amount unlawfully obtained from the victim amounted to Seven Million Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Naira (₦7,338,800.00).
“Upon receipt of the complaint, an investigation commenced, which led to the arrest of the suspects. The suspects admitted to operating an illegal patrol and extortion syndicate alongside three other officers now at large. Exhibits recovered from the arrested suspects include: Three Toyota Sienna Space Buses used for the illegal operations, and a total sum of ₦7,338,800.00 recovered from the suspects.
“Further investigation established that the suspects were armed with AK-47 rifles during their operations and had engaged in similar criminal activities against several unsuspecting citizens within Rivers State using the same modus operandi.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to assure members of the public that the actions of these dismissed officers do not represent the values, ethics, and professional standards of the Force. The institution remains committed to accountability, discipline, transparency, and the protection of citizens’ rights,” DCP Placid stated.
Dennis Naku is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with approximately 19 years of professional experience. He has previously worked with Champion Newspapers and National Mirror Newspaper, reporting across multiple beats. His work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to professional journalism practice.
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