Eleven police officers have been arrested, dismissed or declared wanted in Rivers State after investigators linked them to a series of armed robberies in which victims were forced at gunpoint to transfer funds from bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, said to be more than N19.7 million.

The disclosure came during a press briefing by the Command’s Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, who described the criminal operations as “a grave betrayal of the trust placed in them by the people of Rivers State.”

Placid disclosed that the officers operated in minibuses, posed as stop-and-search teams, targeting motorists at illegal checkpoints before abducting them and draining their accounts.

He said: “In one incident on November 3, 2025, a victim identified as Festus Saturday was stopped on Igbo Etche Road, Port Harcourt, by six officers armed with AK-47 rifles.

“Finding nothing incriminating, the officers, nonetheless, abducted and assaulted him, seized his phones, and transferred N4.5 million from his OPay account and the naira equivalent of USD 1,742 from his cryptocurrency wallet, a combined N7.3 million.

“Three inspectors — Ayanniyi Jelili, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus — have been arrested in connection with the case. Three others, Inspectors Awele Ogbogu, Prosper Aghotor, and Corporal Favour Onwuchekwa, remain at large. A manhunt is ongoing.”

Placid further disclosed that a separate syndicate of five officers attached to the Command’s Department of Operations Patrol Team carried out similar attacks on at least three other victims between September 2025 and January 2026.

“Mr. Okparaocha David Ugochukwu was robbed of cash, gold jewellery, and a wristwatch valued at over N7.3 million. Mr. John Godstime lost N1.5 million after officers forcibly obtained his ATM details along NTA Road.

“The combined losses across both cases exceed N19.7 million. Five officers from the DOPS Patrol Team — Inspectors John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu — have been dismissed from the Force following orderly room proceedings.

Their case file has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with charges expected within 30 days.”

Placid reiterated that the conduct is “a grave betrayal of the trust placed in them by the people of Rivers State,” adding that the Command “remains uncompromising in its commitment to accountability.”

He added that Three Toyota Sienna buses used in the operations were among exhibits recovered, urging members of the public to contact the Command’s control room with information on the fleeing suspects.