• Commissioner pledges energy infrastructure protection in Ogun

The police commands in Rivers and Ogun states have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling security threats, with the Rivers State Police Command arresting five suspected kidnappers and rescuing a 24-year-old woman, while its Ogun counterpart has pledged stronger protection for petroleum and energy infrastructure.

In Rivers State, the police arrested five suspects over the alleged abduction of a woman identified only as Chinyere along the Igwirita–Etche Road.

The Rivers State Police Command said the victim travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit a friend but was abducted along the road.

In a statement, the police spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe Kaborlo, said the command received a report of the incident on October 4 and deployed operatives of its Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Diobu, to investigate.

The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27; Bright Augustine, 27; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35; and Obinachi Rita, 26.

According to the police, operatives arrested Okeregwu at a hideout along the Omuoda Pipeline in Allu, Port Harcourt, while the other four suspects were also apprehended in connection with the alleged crime.

Preliminary investigations reportedly indicated that the suspects lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating platforms before abducting them.

The command added that the suspects had made statements admitting involvement in the kidnapping and provided information about other abduction cases in Igwirita and Etche.

However, the police did not disclose further details about the circumstances of the woman’s rescue or whether ransom was demanded or paid.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, reiterated the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

He also urged the public to exercise caution when meeting people they had encountered through online dating platforms, verify their identities before arranging physical meetings and report suspicious activities to the police.

In Ogun State, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, pledged stronger security support for petroleum distribution facilities, gas infrastructure, compressed natural gas facilities and other critical energy installations to prevent vandalism, theft, illegal operations and economic sabotage.

Ojajuni gave the assurance when the State Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Dr Atilola Akinyemi, and members of the authority’s management team paid him a courtesy visit at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He said the command would strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation with relevant stakeholders while providing security support within the law to protect strategic energy assets across the state.

The police commissioner noted that securing critical infrastructure was essential to investor confidence, industrial productivity and economic development, particularly in Ogun, a major industrial hub.

Acknowledging the NMDPRA’s strategic role in the petroleum sector, Ojajuni stressed the need for sustained collaboration to prevent activities that could threaten public safety and economic stability.

He cited his previous operational experience with the regulatory framework of the then Department of Petroleum Resources in Yola, Adamawa State, and reaffirmed the police’s readiness to support lawful enforcement and create a secure environment for legitimate business activities.

He, however, emphasised that cooperation between both institutions must respect their respective statutory responsibilities.
Ojajuni commended Akinyemi and his team for initiating the engagement, expressing confidence that stronger inter-agency collaboration would improve the security of strategic energy assets in Ogun.

He urged petroleum facility operators, the regulatory authority and members of the public to report suspicious activities around energy installations and other critical infrastructure through appropriate security channels.

Earlier, Akinyemi highlighted the NMDPRA’s regulatory responsibilities under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, noting that effective regulation and collaboration with security agencies were essential to protecting energy investments, ensuring compliance and promoting economic growth.

He commended the Ogun State Police Command for its support in securing petroleum-related operations and infrastructure, while seeking stronger operational cooperation on regulatory, technical and security matters.