Cops arrested for kidnapping in Rivers still walking free

A Delta State House of Assembly candidate, Harrison Gwamnishu, has alleged that three officers of the Rivers State Police Command arrested for kidnapping a man recently were yet to be prosecuted.

The officers, ASP Doubara Edonyabo, ASP Talent Mungo, and Inspector Odey Michael, had kidnapped the man in Aba, Abia State, took him to Bayelsa State and later Ughelli in Delta State where they allegedly took the 3000USDT equivalent of N 4,200,000.00 from him, a police statement revealed.

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.

“Since on the 18th of January, through my effort and that of my team, we arrested these officers that were involved in kidnapping and taking ransom of $3000USDT from their victim.

“Till date, these officers are walking freely at the command and putting our lives and that of the victim at risk. I was boldly told they can’t be dismissed because they are senior police officers. They are ASP Doubara Edonyabo, ASP Talent Mungo, and Inspector Odey Michael,” he wrote on X.

The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, couldn’t be reached for her immediate reaction.

However, in a statement released on January 22, Iringe-Koko disclosed that the officers whose actions violated the law and the ethical standards of the police force, were facing disciplinary actions.

“The two officers have been issued with official queries, and the inspector has been slated for an orderly room trial. Additionally, to demonstrate our commitment to transparency and accountability, the Rivers State Police Command has decided to publicly parade the officers before the press on to underscore the seriousness with which we view this matter,” she stated.

This isn’t the first time such misconduct has been reported involving Rivers State policemen.

In December, four operatives were involved in the alleged abduction of a hotel worker in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The victim identified as Darlington was reportedly arrested on his way to work when the police officers accosted him near Choba in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

They were later arrested after the matter was reported to the Divisional Police Officer.