The Rivers State Police Command has suspended a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) following allegations of extortion and misconduct.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko, said yesterday that the action followed reports circulating on social media alleging that the officer collected N500,000 from a suspect to secure his release from detention.
According to the reports, a payment receipt indicated that the money was transferred to an Opay account bearing a name allegedly linked to the DPO.
The reports also alleged that the officer arrested a mother of two and charged her to court after she reported that her husband had assaulted and injured her.
Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
She stated that the officer was immediately relieved of his duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
“In response to the allegations and in line with the command’s commitment to transparency, accountability and professionalism, the officer has been removed from office pending a thorough and impartial investigation,” she said.
The police spokesperson added that the commissioner had expressed concern over the allegations and reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct.
According to her, the command will not condone abuse of office or any conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
“Adepoju has assured residents that the investigation will be conducted diligently, professionally and without bias,” she added.
Iringe-Koko reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining high standards of integrity, discipline and service delivery.
She also encouraged residents to continue reporting cases of alleged misconduct through appropriate channels.
The spokesperson assured the public that any officer found culpable after investigation would face appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with extant regulations. (NAN)
Troops foil terrorist attack, rescue abductees in Sokoto, Katsina
Troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, have neutralised armed terrorists, foiled a kidnapping attempt and recovered arms and rustled livestock in Sokoto and Katsina states.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North-West), Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Sokoto.
According to him, the first operation occurred on June 21 when armed terrorists attempted to infiltrate Tureta town in Sokoto State.
Danja said that acting on actionable intelligence, vigilant troops engaged the criminals, forcing them to abandon their mission and flee.
“Following this initial encounter, aerial surveillance tracked the fleeing terrorists to Sulubawa Gidan Kare village, where they were observed moving with abducted civilians and rustled livestock.
“Acting promptly, the troops launched a hot pursuit. Despite encountering a hastily mounted ambush by the retreating terrorists, the troops displayed exceptional courage and superior firepower, fighting through the ambush and compelling the criminals to scatter,” he said.
He said the operation led to the successful rescue of the abductees, recovery of the rustled cattle and seizure of two motorcycles used by the terrorists.
In a related development, Danja said that in the early hours of June 22, troops carried out an intelligence-driven dawn raid on a known terrorist enclave in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“During the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were neutralised, while several others fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot wounds,” he said.
According to him, the operation also led to the recovery of a PKT assault rifle, an AK-47 rifle with ammunition, three motorcycles, mobile communication devices, rustled livestock and other logistical items used to facilitate criminal activities.
He assured the public that aggressive operations would be sustained to dismantle terrorist networks, deny them freedom of action and restore lasting peace and security across the North-West region.
Ibadan bishops worry over abductees’ condition 5 weeks after abduction
The Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have expressed concern over the condition of the Oriire abductees, five weeks after they were kidnapped.
The bishops, at a news conference in Ibadan on Monday, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
The province comprises the Ibadan Archdiocese and the dioceses of Ondo, Ilorin, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo. It is headed by the Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin as president and the Most Rev. Anselm Lawani as secretary.
The bishops said the abductees, who were taken on May 15, had endured enough hardship in captivity, living without shelter and exposed to harsh conditions.
They expressed concern that the victims remained at the mercy of “vicious and merciless criminals” in the forest.
The bishops described the murder of a teacher and a motorcycle rider, as well as the beheading of another teacher, as “a barbaric assassination of culture and an erasure of decency.”
“This should have absolutely no place in Nigeria and, particularly, among Yoruba people.
“The incident violated the sanity and innocence of the Nigerian South-West, which is well known for its passion for education,” they said.
The bishops also noted that the abduction and killings had turned the once peaceful Esiele community into a scene of prolonged sorrow and anguish.
While acknowledging the reassurances, speeches and visits by federal and state government officials, they maintained that the country’s security architecture still required significant improvement.
“Nigerians seem no further than where they were 10 years ago with insecurity of lives and property,” they lamented.
They highlighted the scale of insecurity across the country, noting that violent kidnappings in farmlands and villages had become commonplace.
The bishops also expressed concern over attacks on security personnel, including policemen and soldiers.
They said they could no longer remain silent over the excruciating wait, painful lamentation and suffering inflicted on the families of the 46 abductees.
“We condemn this gross assault on the sanctity of human life and social order, and we are outraged by the seeming inability of our governments to prevent its frequent occurrence,” they said.
Drawing parallels with the Chibok abductions, the bishops urged the Oyo State Government to ensure that the Esiele abductees did not suffer a similar fate.
“Governor Makinde should act now lest the present debacle dim the glory of his past exploits.
“We also appeal to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to fast-track the approval of state police and put in place policies and legislation to prevent its abuse,” they said.
The bishops called for decisive policing of forests, improved intelligence gathering, better support for grassroots communities and greater deployment of technology to strengthen security.
They also condemned the reintegration of so-called repentant bandits into society and security structures while victims and their families continue to suffer neglect.
According to them, such actions undermine justice and reflect the corruption that has weakened the social contract.
The bishops insisted that bandits and kidnappers must face the full weight of the law swiftly and decisively to deter others from taking up arms against the state.
They urged Nigerians to remain law-abiding, vigilant and prayerful for the victims and security personnel.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. No innocent person should be subjected to violence, oppression or marginalisation while governments at any level appear helpless and overwhelmed,” they said.
These versions are tightened for publication, with improved headlines, punctuation, consistency and readability.
