The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed five inspectors after an internal trial found them guilty of operating a robbery and extortion ring that targeted residents across Port Harcourt and its outskirts for nearly five months.

According to police spokesman DCP Anthony Placid, the officers — John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu — used minibuses to conduct illegal stop-and-search operations. They posed as operatives from Zone 16 Headquarters in Yenagoa, stopped people at gunpoint, forced them to reveal bank passcodes, and transferred money directly from their accounts. 

Investigators said the group abducted one man on Aba Road and took N3.6 million and $4,000 from his cryptocurrency wallet. Another victim lost N7.3 million in cash and valuables after being kidnapped, while a third was robbed of N1.5 million on NTA Road. In total, the officers stole over N19 million from multiple victims between September 2025 and January 2026.

The case was opened after the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation submitted petitions on behalf of the victims. Following the orderly room proceedings, the command dismissed all five officers with immediate effect and said they will be prosecuted in court. The police added that POS operators found aiding such illegal transactions will also be arrested.