The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five officers and arrested several others over their alleged involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion, and related offences in Rivers State.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, said the disciplinary action forms part of its ongoing internal cleansing aimed at eliminating criminal elements within the organisation.
He wrote that the affected officers were implicated in cases of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and abuse of office in Rivers State and surrounding areas.
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The police described the officers’ actions as “a gross betrayal of the ethics, standards, and professional values of the Nigeria Police Force”.
The police said investigations uncovered a criminal syndicate involving serving officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters in Yenagoa.
The officers were alleged to have engaged in armed robbery, kidnapping, and extortion while conducting illegal patrols in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to the police, the officers abducted victims during unlawful stop-and-search operations, forcibly accessed their bank and cryptocurrency applications, and extorted millions of naira.
Three other accomplices are currently at large.
The Force said investigators recovered three Toyota Sienna buses used in the operations, as well as ₦7,338,800 traced to the alleged criminal activities.
Police added that the suspects operated with firearms and were believed to have carried out similar operations against unsuspecting members of the public across Rivers State.
In a separate investigation, the Force uncovered another syndicate involving officers formerly attached to the Department of Operations of the Rivers State Command.
The five officers were found to have engaged in organised acts of kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and official corruption.
According to the police, the officers routinely abducted citizens, compelled victims to transfer funds from their bank and cryptocurrency accounts, and dispossessed them of valuables while posing as legitimate patrol officers.
Following orderly room proceedings, the five officers were dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.
The police said the case file has been forwarded for prosecution on charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, official corruption, and other related offences.
The Nigeria Police Force urged members of the public to continue reporting cases of police misconduct, abuse of office, extortion, and human rights violations through established complaint channels for prompt investigation and action.
