The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has removed the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Ijeoma Oguchukwu, over allegations of extortion and abuse of office.

This is coming barely 48 hours after a rights activist, identified as Harrison Gwaminshu, accused the DPO of extorting ₦500,000 from an individual who was allegedly arrested and detained at the station without any known offence.
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The activist also alleged that the officer proffered what he described as, a ridiculous charge against a woman, accusing her of stealing her own children in the course of a dispute with her estranged husband.

According to the activist, the woman was subsequently remanded in a correctional custodial centre based on the charges, a development he condemned as he tendered the payment slip of five hundred thousand naira bearing the name of the Divisional Police Officer and his personal account number.

However, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbolo, the Command said its attention had been drawn to a publication circulating on various online platforms, alleging misconduct involving a Divisional Police Officer within the Command.

The statement noted that, in line with the Command’s commitment to transparency, accountability and professionalism, the officer concerned had been immediately removed from his position pending the outcome of a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, expressed dismay over the incident and reiterated that the Command will not tolerate any form of misconduct, abuse of office, or actions capable of undermining public trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police Force as he assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted diligently, while encouraging citizens to continue reporting incidents of misconduct through appropriate channels.