Police Dismiss Corrupt Officers, Bust Human Trafficking, Kidnap and Robbery Syndicates
By Core Reporters
The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its internal cleansing and anti-crime operations with the dismissal, arrest, and prosecution of officers implicated in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion, stealing, and abuse of office, while also unveiling major breakthroughs against human trafficking and organized criminal networks across the country.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) Headquarters in Guzape, Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, said the police under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, remain committed to discipline, accountability, and professional policing.
According to the police, investigations uncovered a criminal syndicate involving serving officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, including Inspectors Ayanniyi Jelili, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus, who allegedly engaged in armed robbery, kidnapping, and extortion while carrying out illegal patrol operations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The officers were accused of abducting victims during unlawful stop-and-search operations and forcing them to surrender access to their bank and cryptocurrency accounts before extorting millions of naira.
Police said the investigation led to the arrest of the three officers, while three other accomplices — Inspector Awele Ogbogu, Inspector Prosper Aghotor, and Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa — are currently on the run.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly used for the operations and ₦7.3 million traced to the criminal activities.
In a separate case, five officers formerly attached to the Department of Operations, Rivers State Command — Inspectors John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu — were dismissed from the Force over allegations of kidnapping, extortion, stealing, and official corruption.
The police said the officers routinely abducted citizens, extorted money from victims through unlawful bank and cryptocurrency transfers, and dispossessed them of valuables while pretending to be on official patrol duties.
The dismissed officers have since been recommended for prosecution on charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and related offences.
DCP Placid said the Force would continue to expose and remove criminal elements within the institution irrespective of rank or status.
“The actions of the affected officers represent a gross betrayal of the ethics, standards, and professional values of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.
The Force also announced the dismantling of a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating within the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring Nasarawa communities.
Police operatives arrested 13 suspects and rescued 30 victims, all identified as Malian nationals, during coordinated operations in Mararaba and Karu, Nasarawa State.
The principal suspect, Abdul Ngaki, alongside other members of the syndicate, allegedly lured vulnerable youths from Mali and Gabon to Nigeria with false promises of travel opportunities to Europe and lucrative jobs.
Victims were reportedly forced to pay transportation and processing fees before being held in restrictive conditions and coerced into staged kidnapping schemes designed to extort ransom from their relatives abroad.
The police said the operation, which lasted 17 days and involved technical intelligence and human intelligence gathering, successfully uncovered the trafficking network.
Authorities disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force is working with the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Embassy of Mali to facilitate the safe repatriation of the rescued victims while investigations continue to identify other collaborators.
In another breakthrough, police operatives arrested suspects linked to a kidnapping syndicate involving family members who allegedly abducted their own father and grandfather for ransom.
The suspects, Musa Adamu and Yusuf Rabo, were accused of conspiring with Ali Haruna, currently at large, to kidnap Alhaji Rabo Jelani because of his perceived wealth and livestock business.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate used AK-47 rifles during the operations and shared proceeds from ransom payments among themselves after deducting money for weapons procurement.
The police said the victim was abducted twice, with ransom payments amounting to ₦6.5 million collected in total.
The syndicate was also linked to the kidnapping of an Igbo trader and a highway robbery attack near Government Secondary School, Kagoma.
Meanwhile, the Force also arrested a 41-year-old chef, John Cosmos Govi, for allegedly conspiring with accomplices to drug members of his employer’s household and facilitate a multimillion-naira robbery.
Police investigations showed that the suspect allegedly laced food with a sedative substance before allowing his accomplices into the residence of Engr. Kassim Abu Amjad in Abuja.
The gang reportedly carted away ₦12,000 cash and 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about ₦150 million after vandalizing the home’s CCTV system.
The suspect was intercepted while attempting to flee to Lagos through Gwagwalada Park, while investigations continue to track down his accomplices identified as Peter and Moses.
Police said preliminary findings suggest the suspect specialized in infiltrating affluent homes by securing employment as domestic staff before coordinating theft operations.
The Force urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, carefully scrutinize domestic staff and suspicious agents, and continue reporting cases of police misconduct, extortion, and criminal activities through established complaint channels.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to a professional, transparent, accountable, and service-driven policing system firmly rooted in the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights,” the statement added.
