Rivers police apprehended four officers over alleged kidnapping

The Rivers State Police Command has officially confirmed the arrest of four police operatives implicated in the alleged kidnapping of a hotel worker in Port Harcourt.

The victim, identified as Darlington, was reportedly seized on his way to work around 8 pm last Friday near Choba in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Initial encounters between the victim and the police involved searches of his phone and person, revealing no incriminating evidence.

However, upon discovering the victim’s workplace, the officers purportedly abducted him. They allegedly issued threats, claiming they had previously killed individuals who resisted cooperation.

Demanding a ransom of N1 million, the officers reportedly threatened to kill Darlington and dispose of his body in the Choba River, labeling him a kidnapper.

The victim was restrained inside a vehicle, patrolled with, and eventually taken to a bush near Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.

But luck ran out of the police officers when the matter was reported to the Divisional Police Officer who disguised and started negotiating the payment of ransom with the rogue officers pretending to be father of the victim.

The DPO then pleaded with them to meet him up at a certain location where he will pay them the N1 million ransom, but on getting there, the DPO and his team disarmed them and arrested them.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, confirmed the arrest of the officers at an event in Port Harcourt, saying they were in custody.

CP Disu stated, “I heard about that incident on social media, and despite that, I went to town with my officers to work on it.

I’m confirming to you that officers who had contact with that victim have been arrested. I’m waiting for complaints from the victim to know what and what to really look out for.

“The officers are there. We are not hiding anything and when the complaints come we will give you further details on what we have done about it.”