Five former Rivers police inspectors face trial over alleged robbery and kidnapping.

Five former inspectors of the Rivers State Police Command are scheduled to be prosecuted for alleged crimes that include armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion and criminal conspiracy.

The officers were dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force after investigations tied them to a series of criminal incidents that reportedly occurred across Rivers State between September 2025 and January 2026.

This information was released in a statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, who quoted the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid.

The dismissed inspectors are identified as John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu and Anele Ikechukwu.

According to the police, the case was uncovered following petitions submitted by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of several alleged victims.

Police authorities claim that the inspectors used minibusses to conduct illegal stop‑and‑search operations, during which unsuspecting residents were allegedly held at gunpoint.

The statement alleges that victims were forced to provide banking details and passcodes before money was transferred from their accounts.

“The officers forced victims to disclose their banking pass codes and account details. They forcefully transferred money from their victims’ bank accounts,” the statement said.

The police further alleged that the suspects pretended to be operatives from Zone 16 Headquarters in Yenagoa to intimidate victims and avoid suspicion.

Investigators also claim that the group abducted a male victim along Aba Road and allegedly deprived him of over N3.6 million and 4,000 USD from his cryptocurrency wallet.

Another victim was reportedly kidnapped and stripped of more than N7.3 million in cash and valuables, while a third individual allegedly lost N1.5 million after being intercepted along NTA Road.

The statement says an orderly room trial found the officers culpable, leading to their dismissal from the police force with immediate effect.

A “prima facie case of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, official corruption and extortion has been established against the dismissed officers,” the police said.

The Force spokesman added that the case file had already been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and formal charges are expected to be filed within 30 days.

The police also reiterated their commitment to professionalism, accountability, transparency and the protection of citizens’ rights.