The Rivers State Police Command has faulted claims made by a Delta State House of Assembly candidate, Harrison Gwamnishu, alleging the release of three officers accused of kidnapping in the state.
The implicated officers, ASP Doubara Edonyabo, ASP Talent Mungo, and Inspector Odey Michael reportedly kidnapped a man in Aba, Abia State.
Subsequently, they transported the victim to Bayelsa State and later to Ughelli in Delta State, where they allegedly extorted $3000, equivalent to N4,200,000.00, according to a police statement.
Following their arrest, the command disclosed that an investigation into the incident had begun while the money collected had been returned to the victims on January 18.
However, Gwamnishu who raised the initial alarm, stated in an X post on Friday that the erring officers were still ‘walking freely’ and wouldn’t be dismissed because they are senior officers.
Reacting to the claims, the command in a statement signed by the state Police PRO, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that the allegation is false, malicious, and misleading.
According to her, the officers in question, are currently in detention at the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department and are undergoing the standard disciplinary process of the Police.
The command also urged the public to disregard the publication, “as we will provide updates on the outcome of the disciplinary committee in due course.”
The statement read “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a viral publication circulating on social media and online platforms. The publication alleges that three officers of the command, who were arrested for abducting and extorting two young men, are walking freely without facing prosecution.
“This information was based on a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Delta State House of Assembly Labour Party candidate, Harrison Gwamnishu.
“We wish to categorically state that the allegation is false, malicious, and misleading. The officers in question, namely ASP Doubara Edonyabo, ASP Talent Mungo, and Inspector Odey Michael, are currently in detention at the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department and are undergoing the standard disciplinary process of the Police.
Furthermore, the accused officers participated in an identification parade held at the State Criminal Investigation Department on February 2, 2024, in connection with another complaint against them.
The statement further urged the general public to disregard the publication, “As we will provide updates on the outcome of the disciplinary committee in due course.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olatunji Disu strongly condemns false reporting and emphasizes the need for responsible journalism. He calls on media organizations and personnel to act professionally and provide accurate information, as the public relies on them for factual news.
“It is important to note that the person who tweeted, as expected of a reasonable reporter, failed to obtain the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer. The Commissioner of Police demands responsible reportage to ensure the public is not misled.
We appreciate your cooperation in disseminating this corrected information to the public”, Disu said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the Command had arrested four of its operatives involved in the alleged abduction of a hotel worker in Port Harcourt and consequently demanded a ransom to release him in December. Rivers police arrest four cops for alleged kidnapping (punchng.com)
The hotel worker simply identified as Darlington was reportedly arrested on his way to work at about 8pm when the police officers accosted him near Choba in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that the policemen searched the man’s phone and body, but found nothing incriminating on him.
However, after discovering where the man was working, the policemen reportedly kidnapped him and threatened that they would kill him as they had done to some other victims who refused to cooperate with them in the past.
While insisting on the N1m ransom, the operatives had even threatened to throw his body into the Choba River after killing him and tagging him a kidnapper.
The policemen were also said to have tied the man inside a vehicle and patrolled with him until they finally took him to a bush around Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
